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Abstract(s)
Dietary fibers are classified into water soluble or insoluble, and most plant foods include in their composition variable amounts of a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers. This soluble or insoluble nature of fiber is related to its physiological effects. Insoluble fibers are characterized by high porosity, low density and the ability to increase fecal bulk, and act by facilitating intestinal transit, thus reducing the exposure to carcinogens in the colon and therefore acting as protectors against colon cancer. The influence of soluble fiber in the digestive tract includes its ability to retain water and form gels as well as a role as a substrate for fermentation of colon bacteria. However, the viscous soluble polysaccharides can delay digestion and compromise in some degree the absorption of nutrients from the gut.
Dietary fibers have an impact on all aspects of gut physiology and are a vital part of a healthy diet. Diets rich in dietary fiber have a protective effect against diseases such as hemorrhoids and some chronic diseases as well as in decreasing the incidence of various types of cancer, including colorectal, prostate and breast cancer.
The dietary fibers are among the most attractive and studied themes in nutrition and public health in the past decades, and therefore many epidemiological studies have been developed to evaluate the effects of fibers on several aspects of human health.
The current trend is towards diets rich in dietary fiber since these are implicated in the maintenance and/or improvement of health. However, despite the beneficial effects, there is also evidence of some negative effects associated with fiber consumption. For example, fiber can produce phytobenzoates, which can induce a decrease in the absorption and digestion of proteins. On the other hand, some fibers may inhibit the activity of pancreatic enzymes that digest carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Furthermore, fibers can interfere, although not strongly, with the absorption of some vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, zinc and copper.
Description
Keywords
Fibre Healt Cancer Diatery fiber
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Guiné RPF (2015) Role of dietary fibers on health of the gastro-intestinal system and related types of cancer. in Clemens ME (Ed.) Dietary Fiber. Production Challenges, Foof Sources and Health Benefits. pp. 19-41, Nova Publishers, USA.
Publisher
Nova Science Publishers