Dietary Fibers and Their Fermented Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Prevention of Human Diseases

Publication date: Available online 26 September 2018Source: Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary FibreAuthor(s): Kedar N Prasad, Stephen C BondyAbstractMany studies show that daily consumption of high-fiber diet reduces the risk of developing kidney stones, inflammatory disease, colon cancer and other malignancies, obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Dietary fibers are non-digestible polysaccharides that are composed of complex carbohydrates. Based on their relative solubility in water, dietary fibers can be divided into insoluble and soluble forms. Soluble fibers absorb water to form a gel in the intestine. Soluble fibers with the exception of Psyllium are more readily fermentable by the colon probiotic bacteria than insoluble fibers. An important property of insoluble fibers is the ability to bind with carcinogens, mutagens, and other toxic chemicals that are formed during digestion of food, and eliminate them through the feces. Soluble fibers can be degraded to short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate by fermentation. This review discusses mechanisms of action of fibers and their beneficial effects on the GI tract as well as on other organs. Among short-chain fatty acids, butyrate has been most extensively studied and the effects of sodium butyrate on cell culture and animal models are discussed in order to emphasize its potential value in prevention of certain diseases.
Source: Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre - Category: Food Science Source Type: research