Keyword: fiber
-
Inulin, a type of fiber found in certain plant-based foods and fiber supplements, causes inflammation in the gut and exacerbates inflammatory bowel disease in a preclinical model, according to a study. The study shows that inulin, which is found in foods such as garlic, leeks and sunchoke, as well as commonly used fiber supplements and foods with added fiber, stimulates microbes in the gut to release bile acids that increase the production of molecules that promote intestinal inflammation. Feeding inulin to mice in the context of a model of inflammatory bowel disease increased the production of certain bile acids by...
-
Combining a low dose of blood pressure medication with a higher intake of dietary-resistant starch might help stave off diabetic kidney disease, according to results from a new animal study. "Our study suggests that combining dietary interventions with a low dose of established medications for diabetic kidney disease management can provide a more feasible and lower side-effect alternative for patients to implement and improve their health outcomes by helping maintain their kidney integrity," said Claudia Carrillo. Dietary-resistant starch is found in unripe bananas, cooked and cooled potatoes, legumes and whole grains. This type of carbohydrate ferments in the large intestine,...
-
High blood pressure, or hypertension, remains a global health concern, contributing to 19% of deaths worldwide. In an international review, biologists highlight the pivotal role of dietary fiber in managing hypertension and reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and call for the inclusion of dietary fiber in clinical guidelines for hypertension. The review sheds light on the often-overlooked importance of dietary fiber in blood pressure management. Said Francine Marques, "Dietary fiber has emerged as a crucial yet underappreciated part of hypertension management." "Our comprehensive analysis emphasizes the evidence supporting the effectiveness of dietary fiber in lowering blood pressure and reducing the...
-
Eating more dietary fiber may help prevent type 2 diabetes by promoting beneficial gut bacteria and substances produced during metabolism, according to research. The study looked at data from up to 11,000-plus participants in the ongoing Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. The researchers found that higher fiber intake was associated with specific "good" gut bacteria and certain favorable metabolites in the blood—some of which were actually produced by gut bacteria. Those gut microbes and metabolites were associated with lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes during an average follow-up of six years. According to federal dietary guidelines, the majority...
-
A new U-M study finds a complex interplay between diet, genes, and the gut microbiota that could explain why IBD develops. The newest study builds on previous work that found that a low fiber diet led to a proliferation of mucin degrading bacteria—bacteria that thrive by eating the mucus lining of the intestine. In some people, genetic loss of a cytokine—a protein that affects the immune system—known as interleukin-10 (IL-10) or its receptor, leads to the early onset of IBD. While some of these mice spontaneously developed inflammation in their intestinal tracts as well, the level of severity varied and...
-
Fiber is essential for the digestive system. It helps maintain a healthy weight and lowers the risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Getting the right amount of fiber, whether through food or drinks, is a great way to relieve constipation. In addition to all that, fiber supplements could improve brain function in older adults, according to a new study. The study followed individuals over the age of 60 for a 12-week period. Results found those who took prebiotic fiber supplements showed a "significant improvement in memory." The study evaluated the gut microbiome and its correlation with both cognitive...
-
A daily fiber supplement improved brain function in people over 60 in just 12 weeks. The study showed that this simple and cheap addition to diet can improve performance in memory tests associated with early signs of Alzheimer's disease. However, the prebiotic supplements inulin and FOS were found to have no effect on muscle strength over this period. As populations age globally, the prevalence of age-related conditions such as cognitive decline is on the rise. Researchers sought to understand how targeting the microbiota, the diverse community of microorganisms residing in our intestines, using two cheap, commercially available plant fiber supplements...
-
Dendritic cells play a key role in the mammalian immune system. These cells are present throughout the human body and are known to capture foreign bodies, or antigens, using extendable "arms" called dendrites. Once captured, dendritic cells present these substances to immune T cells, thereby initiating an immune response. Dendritic cells are responsive to their environment. For instance, dendritic cells in the intestine's mucosa (inner layer) capture harmful bacteria by extending their dendrites through the epithelium (outermost layer) and into the intestinal lumen (inner space). Researchers found short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by intestinal bacteria are responsible for initiating the...
-
Researchers are testing a drug against obesity and diabetes, and now a team reports that substance has a beneficial effect on mice with experimental lung cancer. The substance is the short-chain fatty acid propionate, which is naturally produced by bacteria in our gut. This new research study shows that treating mice with lung cancer with propionate can reduce the occurrence of metastases. The study also demonstrates a role for propionate in increasing the effectiveness of Cisplatin, a commonly used drug for lung cancer patients. One of these programs is called EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition), which existed even when we were still...
-
Brain inflammation is a common side effect of ongoing chemotherapy and a catalyst for a range of debilitating physical and psychological symptoms for which there's no solution. But now new research has shown that using a supplement to increase fiber intake while undergoing chemotherapy can significantly reduce brain inflammation and the associated health issues. "Using pre-clinical models, we found that fiber supplementation directly causes positive changes in the gut microbiome and has the potential to alleviate brain inflammation following chemotherapy," Dr. Cross said. "Our study showed fiber reduced inflammation in the brain region responsible for memory by as much as...
-
Metabolites produced by gut bacteria during digestion can be used to trigger an immune response against colorectal cancer cells, according to new research that points toward a potential treatment for one of the deadliest forms of cancer. The research team found that the metabolites activate a molecule on the surface of the cancer cells that attracts immune cells, called T cells. The metabolites are also able to enter the nucleus of the cancer cells and alter their DNA, which further attracts the attention of the immune system. "What we saw is that these products regulate a key molecule on the...
-
Higher consumption of dietary fiber was associated with a lower risk for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study. Minzi Deng, Ph.D. and colleagues examined associations between dietary fiber intake and subsequent incidence of IBD, Crohn disease, and ulcerative colitis. The analysis included 470,669 participants from the U.K. Biobank. The researchers found that during an average follow-up of 12.1 years, there was an inverse association between dietary fiber intake and risk for IBD (lowest versus highest quintile: hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 0.93; P = 0.011) and Crohn's disease (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.32...
-
A study shows that a diet containing suitable amounts of inulin can influence even the length and other macroscopic characteristics of the intestines. This beneficial action is possible only in the presence of bacteria that digest the fiber, however. Positive alterations in immunity are among the healthy interactions. "In mice that ingested a 10% inulin diet, the gut was larger than in mice that consumed only insoluble fiber [cellulose]. When we analyzed their intestinal tissue, we found more epithelial stem cell proliferation in the animals fed an inulin-rich diet. The epithelium is the layer that separates gut contents from other...
-
Chia seeds are a popular superfood but consumers may not be getting the most benefit possible out of them. Scientists have discovered the way chia seeds are eaten could determine how much or how little dietary fiber benefits people get and grinding them up could be the best way to consume them. "Chia seeds contain healthy fats, antioxidants and dietary fiber but there isn't a lot of research into how the composition of these seeds interact with gut microflora, which help to digest food," said Professor Rachel Burton. Chia seeds are often referred to as a superfood due to their...
-
A team of neurobiologists has found that mice with lower levels of Fos (short and medium-chain sugar molecules that are indigestible in the body) in their brains tend to be more susceptible to depression related to stress than mice with higher levels of the chemical. In their study, the group stress-tested mice and then tested levels of Fos in their brains. Prior research has shown that people respond to stressful situations in different ways—some shrug them off while others tend to suffer longer-term repercussions. Such scenarios suggest that some forms of depression may have a genetic link. Prior research has...
-
Even as pancreatic cancer treatments improve, only about 9% of patients survive past five years. Researchers have searched unsuccessfully to find genetic differences that explain why some patients survive long term and some do not and have now shifted their focus to the gut microbiome. The microbiome is a term used for the collection of microbes, including microorganisms like bacteria, that live on or in the human body. Jordan Kharofa, MD, said there was little known about the microbiome of long-term pancreatic cancer survivors. "There is emerging science suggesting that pancreas cancer survivors have a robust immune response in their...
-
Fiber intake is associated with a lower risk of developing cognitive decline in those old people with the apolipoprotein E ApoE ε4 genotype, regarded as a genetic risk factor linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease. This is stated in a study. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a multifunctional protein synthetized and secreted by several cells (hepatocytes, adipocytes, etc.). the ApoE gene, which in humans is found in the chromosome 19, is a polymorphic one and has three codominant alleles (ε2, ε3 i ε4) which lead to different haplotypes or genetic variants. "Evidence shows that healthy diets, characterized by a high...
-
Psyllium fiber protects against ulcerative colitis and suppresses inflammation by activating the bile acid nuclear receptor, a mechanism that was previously unrecognized, according to a study. The findings reveal that psyllium inhibits inflammation that can lead to colitis in mice by increasing serum bile acids, resulting in the activation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a bile acid nuclear receptor. Fiber-rich foods promote intestinal and metabolic health, but the extent of protection varies for each fiber type. It has been unclear whether dietary fiber can benefit severe forms of intestinal inflammation, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are...
-
Fiber-rich food is important for gastrointestinal health, but most Americans don't get enough in their typical diet. Two new papers from the make it easier for food manufacturers to amplify fiber in foods and beverages for health benefit without digestive discomfort. The first paper focuses on tolerance and side effects of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDC), an umbrella term for food components the body can't break down. "The FDA determines if NDCs qualify as dietary fibers. To be a fiber, they must provide a health benefit. These benefits include things like helping with regularity and aiding in the absorption of calcium," explains...
-
Increased dietary fiber intake is associated with a decreased incidence of migraine, according to a study. Hao Huang examined the association between dietary fiber intake and the prevalence of severe headache or migraine using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999 to 2004). The researchers found that after adjusting for covariates, there was a significant inverse association seen between dietary fiber intake and severe headache or migraine, with the lowest prevalence observed in the fifth quintile (odds ratio, 0.74). For every 10-g/day increase in dietary fiber intake, the prevalence of severe headache or migraine decreased by 11...
|
|
|