The association between dietary fibre (DF) density and dietary quality was investigated. Analysis was based on the National Adult Nutrition Survey (http://www.iuna.net). A 4-d semi-weighed food diary was used to collect dietary intake data from 1274 adults aged 18–64 y. Dietary intake data were entered into WISP^©, which is based on McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods 6 ^th edition ^{( 1 )} and the Irish food composition database⁽ Reference Black, Ireland and Møller ^{2 )}. Respondents were split by tertiles of DF density (g/10 MJ), which were stratified by gender and age-group. Food and nutrient intakes were adjusted for total energy (TE). Dietary energy density (DED) was calculated using the ‘food only, excluding all beverages’ method⁽ Reference Ledikwe, Blanck and Khan ^{3 )}. Intakes of energy, DED and nutrient intakes are reported for the lower and upper thirds of DF density. Statistical differences (**P<0.01, ***P<0.001) between upper and lower thirds are reported.

A higher DF density was associated with more favourable macronutrient profiles, a lower DED and greater micronutrient densities in the diet. A higher DF density was also associated with significantly (P<0.001) greater intakes (g/10 MJ) of foods such as fruit, vegetables, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, low fat milk, wholemeal/brown breads and fish, and significantly (P<0.001) lower intakes (g/10 MJ) of white bread, whole milk, carbonated beverages (non-diet) and processed meat. In conclusion, a higher DF density was associated with eating patterns more in line with food based dietary guidelines and with better nutritional quality of the diet overall.