Abstracts
Digestibility
Digestibility
The apparent digestibility of energy, protein, fat and non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) of low and high dietary fibre (DF) mixed diets were studied in three series of experiments with man and the rat. Low DF diets were used as control diets in each experimental series and the DF level was increased by adding fruits and vegetables (Study 1), citrus fibre concentrate (Study 2) and insoluble barley fibre (Study 3).
In spite of some differences between man and the rat in their ability to digest nutrients the various diets are ranked in the same order by the two species.
Bach-Knudsen-KE; Wisker-E; Daniel-M; Feldheim-W; Eggum-BO: Digestibility of energy, protein, fat and non-starch polysaccharides in mixed diets: comparative studies between man and the rat. Br-J-Nutr. 1994 Apr; 71(4): 471-87
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary Heart Disease
High intake of fiber and cereal products, in addition to using soft margarine on bread, may lead to lower total cholesterol. Clinical trials were performed on patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) who did not take any lipid-lowering medication. The goal was to measure serum lipids levels among patients who had been hospitalized 6 months before. Linoleic acid in serum cholesterol esters was inversely related to total cholesterol and triglycerides. Therefore, by eating high fiber and cereal products, serum cholesterol levels may decrease among CHD patients.
Erkkila AT, Sarkkinen ES, Lehto S, 1999 Jun; Pyorala K, Uusitupa MI: Dietary associates of serum total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides in patients with coronary heart disease, Prev Med 28(6): 558-65
American Diet Survey
American Diet Survey
24-hour dietary recall data from the Second National Health and "Nutrition" Examination Survey (1976-80) were used to estimate the numbers of servings of fruit and vegetables consumed by Black and White adults. 45% of the population had no servings of fruit or juice and 22% no servings of a vegetable on the recall day. 9% had the recommended 5 servings (3 vegetables/2 fruits). 5% of Black women and 7% of Black men consumed the recommended numbers of both fruit and vegetable servings. Persons who consumed neither fruit nor vegetables ( 11% ) had only 5.6 g of "fiber" in their diet on recall day. More recent surveys have shown similar results.
Patterson-BH; Block-G; Rosenberger-WF; Pee-D; Kahle-LL: Fruit and vegetables in the American diet: data from the NHANESII survey. Am. J. Pub. Health 1990,80(12):1443-9.
Colon Cancer and Fiber
Colon Cancer
Diets high in fiber and low in fat may help prevent colon cancer. The cause of colon cancer has not been found although risk factors have been determined. The factors are age, diet and genetics. Diets high in both fat and animal products increase the risk of colon cancer. Eating plenty of fiber and foods containing vitamins A, C and E may prevent colon cancer. Fiber intake may be important in lowering the risk of colon cancer.
Held-Warmkessel J: Colon cancer. Prevention and detection strategies, Adv Nurse Pract 1998 Jul; 6(7): 42-5
Ispaghula Husks
Ispaghula Husks
The digestibility of ispaghula, a "mucilage" from Plantago ovata composed mainly of arabinoxylans, and its faecal bulking effect were studied in 7 healthy volunteers who ingested a low fibre controlled diet plus either placebo or 18 g/day of ispaghula for two 15 day periods. Whole gut transit time and gas excretion in breath and flatus were not different during the periods of ispaghula and placebo ingestion. Faecal wet and dry weights rose significantly, however, during ispaghula ingestion. Faecal short chain "fatty acid" concentrations and the "molar" proportions of propionic and acetic acids also increased.
In conclusion, ispaghula is more resistant to fermentation than previously reported in humans, and its bulking effect largely results from intact material.
Marteau-P; Flourie-B; Cherbut-C; Correze-JL; Pellier-P; Seylaz-J; Rambaud-JC: Digestibility and bulking effect of ispaghula husks in healthy humans. Gut. 1994 Dec; 35(12): 1747-52.
Pig Model
Pig Model
The aim of the study was to determine if there is a difference between ileal and faecal assays for determining "amino acid" and N digestibilities in adult human subjects. Comparison of true ileal amino acid and N digestibilities was also made between adult human subjects and growing pigs to establish the usefulness of the pig as a model animal.
There were no significant differences between adult humans and pigs for the ileal digestibility of dry matter and the faecal digestibility of gross energy.
Rowan-AM; Moughan-PJ; Wilson-MN; Maher-K; Tasman-Jones-C: Comparison of the ileal and faecal digestibility of dietary amino acids in adult humans and evaluation of the pig as a model animal for digestion studies in man. Br-J-Nutr. 1994 Jan; 71(1): 29-42.
Tube Feeding
Tube Feeding
The role of fiber in tube feeding products has not been clearly defined. We investigated the effect of 28.8 g/day of a 50% soy and 50% oat fiber combination in 10 medically stable male residents of a chronic care facility. (Soy is c. 6% "soluble", oat c. 50% soluble). Fiber significantly increased (0.5 to 0.9 i.e. doubled) the number of bowel movements per day without altering the rate of gastric emptying or intestinal transit time. We conclude that the addition of fiber (Ultracal) to tube feeding material is well tolerated and beneficial.
Zarling-EJ, Edison-T; Berger-S; Leya-J; DeMeo-M: Effect of dietary oat and soy fiber on bowel function and clinical tolerance in a tube feeding dependent population. J. Am. Coll. Nutrition 1994 13(6):565-8.
Year 2000 Targets
Year 2000 Targets
Year 2000 goal targets 5 or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
Domel-SB; Baranowski-T; Leonard-SB; Litaker-"MS"; Baranowski-J; Mullis-R; Byers-T; Strong-WB; Treiber-F; Levy-M: Defining the year 2000 fruit and vegetable goal. J. Am. Coll. Nutrition. 12(6):669-75.
Glucose Lowering
Glucose Lowering
Dietary fiber may lower postprandial serum glucose by three possible mechanisms, according to this study. Researchers tested the effects of numerous fiber sources (two kinds of water-insoluble fiber and four kinds of water-soluble, including wheat bran, guar gum, and xanthin gum) on glucose-lowering capabilities in vitro. All fiber sources lowered postprandial serum glucose. The authors proprose three possible mechanisms: 1) dietary fiber hinders glucose diffusion in small intestine, 2) fiber may bind glucose and decrease absorption, and 3) fiber may slow amylase action.
Ou S, Kwok Kc, Li Y, Fu L: In vitro study of possible role of dietary fiber in lowering postprandial serum glucose, J Agric Food Chem 2001 Feb;49(2):1026-9
Health Benefits & Fiber
Health Benefits
Diets that are rich in fiber may be an effective intervention for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children, according to the authors of this study. The authors formulated this hypothesis after reviewing scientific literature that relates dietary fiber to body-weight regulation as well as the results of short-term and epidemiologic studies. The short-term studies suggested that high-fiber foods produce greater satiety and satiation in human subjects, while epidemiologic studies supported fiber's role in body-weight regulation of free-living subjects consuming individual diets. Fiber-rich diets may also aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Pereira MA, Ludwig DS: Dietary fiber and body-weight regulation. Observations and mechanisms, Pediatr Clin North Am 2001 Aug;48(4):969-80
Fecal Incontinence & Fiber
Fecal Incontinence
Fiber supplements may decrease fecal incontinence by improving the consistency of loose or liquid stool, according to this study conducted on 39 adults. The participants, who suffered from fecal incontinence of loose or liquid stools, reported their diet intake and stool characteristics before taking fiber supplements for 31 days. The participants received psyllium, gum arabic, or placebo during the supplementation period, and their stool was collected eight days before the supplementation period and eight days after. During the supplementation period, the groups receiving fiber had significantly less incontinent stools than the other groups, and the placebo group had the most loose or liquid stool. The group receiving psyllium had higher water-holding capacity of water-insoluble solids than the group receiving gum arabic. It was found that the fiber that appeared in the participants' stool was completely fermented.
Bliss DZ, Jung HJ, Savik K, Lowry A, LeMoine M, Jensen L, Werner C, Schaffer K: Supplementation with dietary fiber improves fecal incontinence, Nurs Res 2001 Jul-Aug;50(4):203-13
Cardiovascular Disease & Fiber
Cardiovascular disease
A fiber-rich diet may help protect women against cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to this study conducted on 39,876 female health professionals. The study used food frequency questionnaires to assess the women's quantitative fiber intake and then followed them for an average of six years to document incidences of stroke, myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft, or death due to CVD.
Five hundred and seventy incidences were recorded during 230,006 person-years of follow-up. Women with higher fiber intake were less likely to be the victims of incidences related to CVD when certain statistical factors were taken into account. When multiple confounding factors were adjusted for, the inverse relation between fiber intake and CVD became less statistically significant. However, the data from this study supports the current dietary recommendations to consume whole grains, fruits, and vegetables as part of a healthy, disease-preventive diet.
Liu S, Buring JE, Sesso HD, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Manson JE: A prospective study of dietary fiber intake and risk of cardiovascular disease among women, J Am Coll Cardiol 2002 Jan 2;39(1):49-56
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