The Interaction of Dietary Fibres with the Colon

Authors: Brownlee, Iain A.; Dettmar, Peter W.; Strugala, Vicki; Pearson, Jeff P.

Source: Current Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 2, Number 3, August 2006 , pp. 243-264(22)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

The term dietary fibre describes a wide range of highly divergent (mainly polysaccharide) compounds that escape digestion before the colon. Fibre is often regarded as a neutral dietary compound, not interacting with the gut and only offering dietary "benefit" by the consequent absence of calorific macronutrients, or by bulking out luminal content.

Although the above benefits are apparent, a number of other physiological effects of dietary fibres in the colon have previously been described. This review outlines these previous observations in terms of the effect of various fibre types on (i) colonic luminal contents (including the resident microflora (ii) the first line of colonic protection, the mucus barrier (iii) the underlying colonic mucosa (iv) the colonic musculature and (v) colonic neurohumoural release, and the subsequent effect on control of gut motility and satiety. This review will further highlight the divergent physiological effects of various fibre types, and their potential health benefits.

Keywords: Dietary fibre; colon; mucus; satiety; PYY; morphology

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157340106778017896

Affiliations: 1: Institute for Cell & Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.

Publication date: 2006-08-01

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Current Nutrition & Food Science publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on basic and clinical nutrition and food sciences. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all nutrition and food scientists.