Dietary Fiber Commonly Found in Variety of Food Products Promotes Gut Health: Study

In the never-ending quest for better gut health, a recent breakthrough in fiber could be the game-changer we’ve been waiting for. Scientists have discovered that changing the fibre structure could help promote healthy gut bacteria and reduce gas formation, especially in people with irritable bowel disease. This revolutionary development could help millions of people worldwide improve their overall health and well-being through better digestion.

The new study, published in Food Hydrocolloids, examined psyllium, a type of natural dietary fiber. This fiber was found to have a major impact on gas production, often linked to bowel discomfort.

To test the fermentation products and evaluate the impact of the structures of the microorganism, the research team performed vitro fermentation experiments seeded with human stool.

Dr. Gleb Yakubov, one of the lead researchers on the study, explains: “Although fibre is an important part of any diet, for many people it can cause bowel discomfort and for people with IBS or IBD fibre can be a trigger. This is because some foods cause bacterial interactions in the gut that create gas that can lead to pain or discomfort. Our study shows that the physical state of the fibre has a major impact on gas production by creating beneficial compounds that promote the creation of the good bacteria in the gut.”

Psyllium fiber produces long-chain sugars, which produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids that can positively contribute to gut health. This shows that different states of fiber can impact the way dietary fiber breaks down. During this process, microbes can colonize fiber during fermentation.

Because of these findings, we now know that there are new opportunities for designing targeted structures using psyllium which could either be through seed processing or selective breeding. This new type of fiber can then offer clear clinical benefits above those of unrefined psyllium powders to aid in the treatment of gastrointestinal discomfort.

Research has also started at the University of Nottingham with the School of Medicine to create and test psyllium-mimicking materials as an alternative source of fiber for those with bowel conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Trials will be starting this Spring.

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