Abstract
New knowledge about the gut microbiota and its interaction with the host’s metabolic regulation has emerged during the last few decades. Several factors may affect the composition of the gut microbiota, including dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is not hydrolyzed by human digestive enzymes, but it is acted upon by gut microbes, and metabolites like short-chain fatty acids are produced. The short-chain fatty acids may be absorbed into the circulation and affect metabolic regulation in the host or be a substrate for other microbes. Some studies have shown improved insulin sensitivity, weight regulation, and reduced inflammation with increases in gut-derived short-chain fatty acids, all of which may reduce the risk of developing metabolic diseases. To what extent a dietary intervention with fiber may affect the human gut microbiota and hence metabolic regulation, is however, currently not well described. The aim of the present review is to summarize recent research on human randomized, controlled intervention studies investigating the effect of dietary fiber on gut microbiota and metabolic regulation. Metabolic regulation is discussed with respect to markers relating to glycemic regulation and lipid metabolism. Taken together, the papers on which the current review is based, suggest that dietary fiber has the potential to change the gut microbiota and alter metabolic regulation. However, due to the heterogeneity of the studies, a firm conclusion describing the causal relationship between gut microbiota and metabolic regulation remains elusive.
Highlights
Metabolic diseases, like type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the most important public health challenges in the world today [1]
Metabolic regulation was defined as markers related to glycemic regulation such as glucose, insulin, glycolated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), C-peptide, and lipid metabolism such as total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA)
Of 232 studies identified through the search strategy, only 16 studies had investigated the impact of dietary fiber on gut microbiota and host metabolic regulation with an RCT design
Summary
Like type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the most important public health challenges in the world today [1]. Major risk factors contributing to the development of these diseases are linked to overweight and obesity and an unhealthy diet [2,3]. Epidemiological studies have linked a high intake of fiber to a reduced risk of T2D and CVD [4,5]. Dietary fiber is well known for beneficial metabolic effects through its contribution to the reduction of cholesterol levels, improved control of blood glucose levels, and better regulation of body weight [6]. Inflammatory and metabolic changes induced by the gut microbiome are hypothesized to play a role in the development of metabolic diseases such as T2D, CVD, and obesity [8,9,10,11]
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