Cookie samples were prepared with 0-30% of the wheat flour substituted with fibres from apple, lemon, wheat and wheat bran. The effects of increased levels of fibres from different sources on the nutritional properties of cookie samples were investigated (i.e. in vitro protein digestibility, phytic acid content, total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic compounds). It was found that increasing fibre from apple, lemon and wheat sources did not change the nutritional status of the samples to a great extent (p < 0.05). However, addition of wheat bran significantly reduced the nutritional properties of the cookie samples. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.