Dietary fiber prebiotics

The most important types of bioactive compounds can be classified in phytochemicals, micronutrients, dietary fibers, prebiotics, and probiotics, which are briefly discussed in the following sections. 

SCHLEY p D, FIELD c J (2002) The immune-enhancing effects of dietary fiber and prebiotics. BrJNutr. 87 S221-30. 

Sea animals are rich in soluble dietary fibers, proteins, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, with low caloric value. Polysaccharides from marine animals have been reported to possess biological activities with potential medicinal values in addition to their current status as a source of dietary fibers and prebiotics. Moreover, they have a lot of dietary fiber, which lowers blood cholesterol, and iodine, which improves metabolism, vascular and cardiac action, body temperature, and perspiration regulation, and are effective in... 

Inulin prebiotic Inulin dietary fiber Inulin ingredient Inulin ingredient Oligofructose prebiotic Fructose (crystallized)... 

Inulin is used as a diagnostic agent to measure the glomerular filtration rate. It has also entered the food supplement market as a prebiotic and as a noncaloric dietary fiber supplement. Radio-labelled forms of inulin are available as radiochemicals for research. 

One of the super fruit signature nutrients with broad health effects— prebiotic dietary fiber (also called soluble or viscous fiber)—is manufactured out of nearly every pill or capsule, unless purposely put back in. Don t miss out on the important health values of prebiotic fiber. 

Fiber. Diets rich in dietary fiber, especially prebiotic fiber, have broad physiological benefits, including decreased blood levels of cholesterol and lowered risk of several types of cancer and coronary artery disease. The top superfruit sources of fiber are mangoes, figs, oranges, strawberries, the Rubus berries (raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries), goji berries (wolfberries), kiwifruits, dates, a ai berries (as a puree or pulp), seaberries, and dried plums (prunes). 

Figs are a convenient single-food source broad in nutrient content, having exceptional amounts of insoluble and prebiotic dietary fiber, essential dietary minerals, and an unsaturated omega-6 fat, linoleic acid. Essential vitamins A (from carotenoids), B, and K are also present in high densities in the fig. These vitamins have an array of uses in the body—from antioxidant and metabolic roles to participation in blood coagulation and vascular function—that together support cardiovascular health. 

A dried fruit outstanding to just be enjoyed for its soft texture, chewing, and rich taste, the prune has excellent micronutrient diversity. It s rich in both prebiotic (soluble viscous) and insoluble dietary fiber (including lignans), protein, vitamins, and several essential minerals. Prunes are notable for having a low glycemic load and so are recommended for suppressing appetite. 

Besides the traditional use of polysaccharides, described above, in recent years, the scientific community and industries have been exploring a great number of health benefits associated to their consumption. Some of the health benefits reported for the polysaccharides and oligosaccharides are related with their use as dietary fiber and as prebiotic sources, leading to a reduction of cholesterol and glucose blood levels of consumers. 

TABLE 5.1 Current Definitions of Prebiotics and Dietary Fibers... 

The final criterion for a prebiotic is that its fermentation in the colon has some beneficial impact on host health. In vitro studies using models of the colonic microbiota inoculated with human feces and studies in animals, have shown that fermentation of prebiotic fructans leads to accumulation of acetate and butyrate in intestinal/gut model contents. Fermentation of other prebiotics and certain dietary fibers has also been shown to increase propionate production in these systems. Small amounts of lactate and succinate can also be observed using in vitro models, but in vivo, these SCFA are rapidly converted into butyrate and propionate by the gut microbiota. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli ferment carbohydrates mainly to acetate and lactate, but do not themselves produce butyrate. Recent studies have shown that dominant members of the Firmicutes, Eubacterium halli, Roseburia, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Anaerostipes caccae are able to cross-feed off acetate and lactate within the colonic milieu converting them into butyrate, providing a mechanism by which prebiotic modulation of acetate-produdng bifidobacteria can lead to elevated butyrate concentrations within the SCFA have been implicated... 

The mechanism of induction of low-grade chronic inflammation that accompanies HF-diet-induced obesity was demonstrated to be dependent on TLR-4. Interestingly, in the absence of TLR-4/CD14 receptor for LPS, no low-grade chronic inflammation and insulin resistance were induced by HF feeding in mice. Recently also TLR-2 and TLR-5 were shown to be involved in the innate immune system activation that is responsible for the inflammation induced after HF diet. These results confirm gut microbiota implication in the onset of metabolic disorders associated with obesity. Moreover, in animal studies at least, this high-fat-induced metabohc endotoxemia and subsequent metabolic disease may be reversed using prebiotic dietary fibers and certain bacterial supplements... 

Brown IL, Yotsuzuka M, Birkett A, Henriksson A. Prebiotics, synbiotics and resistant starch. J Jpn Assoc Dietary Fiber Res 2006 10 1-9. 

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