The present invention relates to a refined cellulose fiber composition useful as a strength enhancing agent for paper and paperboard, wherein the refined cellulose fiber composition has a Schopper-Riegler (SR) number in the range of 80-98 as determined by standard ISO 5267-1, and wherein the refined cellulose fiber composition has a content of fibers having a length >0.2 mm of at least 12 million fibers per gram based on dry weight. The invention further relates to a method for preparing the refined cellulose fiber composition and to pulp paper and paperboard comprising the refined cellulose fiber composition.