Dietary Fiber Consumption Research Articles

Beyond the family's cooking frequency: The influence of cooking techniques on vegetable and fruit consumption among the U.S. population

BackgroundDespite the well-established health benefits of fruits and vegetables, U.S. consumption remains far below the WHO's recommended 400 g per day. Understanding how culinary techniques influence intake could elucidate strategies for improving dietary habits. ObjectiveTo explore whether the use of cooking techniques for fruits and vegetables is associated with increased consumption of these foods and the corresponding variation in total fiber intake among the U.S. population. MethodsData from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2010, participants (n = 9754) were categorized into groups based on their self-reported cooking frequency. Cooking techniques were classified into types. The mean consumption of fruits and vegetables was segmented into quartiles. Cooking frequency was evaluated, and differences between groups were assessed using chi-square tests and mean comparison tests. The study also assessed the prevalence of cooking techniques for different food groups. Additionally, linear regression analyses were conducted to adjust the mean daily per capita consumption of fruits, vegetables, and dietary fiber, considering cooking frequency and other socioeconomic variables as predictors. ResultsThe studied population's mean consumption of fruits and vegetables was 302.9 g, with half of this amount consisting of fruits. Individuals from households with frequent cooking practices (≥5x a week) consumed, on average, 48.2 g more fruits and vegetables daily than those from households with less frequent cooking (<5x a week). The use of diverse cooking techniques significantly improved vegetable intake, showing a fivefold increase in consumption among those employing multiple techniques. Moreover, frequent home cooking was associated with a 1.0-g increase in daily fiber intake. ConclusionPublic policies aimed at improving fruit and vegetable intake among the U.S. population should consider, in addition to cooking frequency, the role of cooking techniques in influencing the consumption of these food groups.

Association between dietary fiber intake and suicidal ideation: a cross-sectional survey.

Dietary fiber is beneficial for improving mental health. However, few studies have evaluated the relationship between fiber-rich food and suicidal ideation. Thus, we aimed to assess whether dietary fiber consumption was associated with the risk of suicidal ideation. Data of 21,865 American adults were retrieved from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Logistic and restricted cubic spline regression analyses were performed in order to evaluate the association of dietary fiber intake with suicidal ideation, as indicated by item nine of the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). These analyses took into consideration several confounding factors that may potentially influence the results. Herein, we detected an L-shaped association between dietary fiber intake and the risk of suicidal ideation. For the most conclusive model, an increase of 1 g/1000 kcal/d in dietary fiber intake was accompanied by a 5% reduction in the risk of suicidal ideation. The inflection point of the L-shaped association was located at 7.8 g/1000 kcal/d. When dietary fiber intake exceeded the above level, the risk of suicidal ideation no longer decreased. Our findings of reduced risk of suicidal ideation in people with higher dietary fiber intake suggest the potential clinical and public health value of dietary fiber. Interventional investigations are warranted to prove whether adhering to a high-fiber diet prevents and reduces suicidality.

Fast-food consumption among Indian adolescents and associated factors

Fast food consumption is on a rise among adolescence in India and this age group is also facing the double burden of malnutrition. Fast foods are an unhealthy food choice and are associated with increasing obesity and related non -communicable diseases at a young age. India has the largest adolescent population and the health and nutrition issues of this group need to be addressed. Ironically children and teenagers who require more healthy nutritious food constitutes the largest population preferring fast foods. There is need to gain a clear insight on the issue in Indian context therefore the current paper was undertaken to study the scale of the problem, along with factors contributing to rising fast-food consumption among adolescent in India. The review primarily focused on existing Indian studies pertaining to the issue. Available studies report high prevalence of fast-food consumption and lower than recommended consumption of fruits, green leafy vegetables and dairy products which is likely to result in higher calorie consumption and lesser intake of protein, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and phytochemicals in respondents. Both urban and rural adolescence show rising trends of fast-food consumption. It is higher among the urban counterparts. Studies establishing association between overweight/obesity and junk food/fast food consumption in this age group could be sighted. Studies reported taste, affordability, availability, advertising and marketing, parental influence, nuclear families and working mothers, peer pressure and meal skipping to be the contributory associated factors.

Yeast β-glucan supplementation lowers insulin resistance without altering microbiota composition compared to placebo in subjects with Type II diabetes: a phase I exploratory study.

The increased global prevalence of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with consumption of low fibre "Western diets". Characteristic metabolic parameters of these individuals include insulin resistance, high fasting and postprandial glucose, as well as low-grade systemic inflammation. Gut microbiota composition is altered significantly in these cohorts suggesting a causative link between diet, microbiota and disease. Dietary fibre consumption has been shown to alleviate these changes and improve glucose parameters in individuals with metabolic disease. We previously reported that yeast β-glucan (yeast beta-1,3/1,6-D-glucan; Wellmune) supplementation ameliorated hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in a murine model. Here we conducted a randomised, placebo-controlled, two-armed dietary fibre phase I exploratory intervention study in patients with T2DM. The primary outcome measure was alteration to microbiota composition while the secondary outcome measures included markers of glycaemic control, inflammation as well as metabolomics. Patients were supplemented with 2.5g/day of maltodextrin (placebo) or yeast β-1,3/1,6-D-glucan (treatment). Yeast β-glucan (Wellmune) lowered insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) compared to the placebo maltodextrin after 8 weeks of consumption. TNFα was significantly lower after 4 weeks of β-glucan supplementation. Significantly higher faecal concentrations of several bile acids were detected in the treatment group when compared to the placebo after 8 weeks. These included tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) which was previously shown to improve glucose control and lower insulin resistance. Interestingly, the hypoglycaemic and anti-inflammatory effect of yeast β-glucan was independent of any changes in faecal microbiota composition or short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels. Our findings highlight the potential of yeast β-glucan to lower insulin resistance in patients with T2DM.

Association of sociodemographic, obstetric characteristics, lifestyle and food consumption with life satisfaction and optimism among overweight pregnant women.

The present study investigated the relationships between maternal characteristics and subjective well-being (life satisfaction and optimism) among overweight Brazilian adult pregnant women. A cross-sectional study utilising baseline data from a randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 330 women were investigated. Maternal characteristics (sociodemographic, obstetric and lifestyle) were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Data on dietary intake were collected through two 24-h dietary recalls, and the usual diet was estimated using the Multiple Source Method. Life satisfaction and optimism were assessed using validated instruments. Both unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were employed to investigate the relationship between maternal characteristics and subjective well-being. Sleep quality was found to be positively associated with life satisfaction. Miscarriage and smoking during pregnancy were negatively associated with this sentiment. Additionally, a positive association was observed between optimism and maternal characteristics such as sleep quality, desired pregnancy and alcohol consumption in the previous 30 d. Furthermore, it was found that the consumption of sugary drinks, dietary fibre and Ca were positively associated with this same feeling. The present study showed that some maternal and food consumption characteristics were associated with subjective well-being among overweight pregnant women. It is, therefore, essential to recognise predictors of maternal mental health given their relevance to the field of public health.

Dietary fibre and metabolic health: A clinical primer.

Dietary fibres consist of a heterogeneous group of carbohydrate polymers which resist digestion by human gastrointestinal enzymes. Consumption of dietary fibre has been linked with innumerable health benefits encompassing the foundational pillars of metabolic health from obesity to hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with many of these benefits linked with metabolites produced by the fermentation of fibre by gut microbes [1]. The potential of dietary fibre to provide a safe and effective nonpharmacologic complementary tool with which to combat the evolving consequences of the obesity epidemic has recently garnered tremendous attention in both medical literature and lay media alike. HIGHLIGHTS: Consumption of dietary fibre has been linked with innumerable health benefits encompassing the foundational pillars of metabolic health with many of these benefits linked with metabolites produced by the fermentation of fibre by gut microbes At the present time clinicians are faced with an impossible task in which there is rapidly mounting evidence for dietary fibres advancing metabolic health, but little practical options for healthcare providers other than to simply recommend patients consume more fibre. Benefits of fibre intake may perhaps be maximised in an individual by matching specific fibre consumption with existing microbial functional characteristics If dietary fibres could be demonstrated to act as successful adjuncts to sustain or improve standard of care therapies or even alleviate common gastrointestinal side effects associated with current treatments, they would be an invaluable tool in our metabolic health armamentarium. Neither Dr. Madsen or I have any financial conflicts of interest pertinent to the contents of this manuscript.

The gut microbiota of healthy individuals remains resilient in response to the consumption of various dietary fibers

This study focuses on the resilience of gut microbiota during a five-month multi-interventional nutrition trial. The modulatory effects of beta-glucan, rye bran and two dietary fiber mixtures on the fecal pH and compositional changes of the microbiome of healthy subjects were studied. To analyze the stability of intestinal microbiota, we collected an extensive dataset of sequential fecal samples (23–29 from each participant) during a week of the base, beta-glucan consumption and wash-out periods accompanied by the collection of daily food diary data. Microbiota analyses were also conducted after the end of each fiber intake and wash-out period, along with measurements of fecal organic acids and pH. Based on the dominant bacterial taxa, two prevalent microbiota types were identified. The Prevotella-type microbiota responded more to the tested dietary fibers, while the Bacteroides-type microbiota was the least affected. Three microbiota types could not be clustered and behaved differently. Although we noted individual effects of definite fibers on participants’ gut microbiota and metabolic profile, relative abundances of bacteria remained stable in the base period (z-scores − 2.2 to 2.3). In most cases, the bacterial abundances of the final samples remained within the normal fluctuation range stressing out the resilience of healthy microbiota. The pH of all fecal samples varied between 6.1 and 8.3 and was associated with the concentration of organic acids and microbial composition. The effect of dietary fibers on the metabolism of fecal microbiota clearly depended on the individual microbiota type. Combining the analysis of gut microbiota with knowledge of the properties of dietary fibers would provide a powerful strategy for nutrition guidance and disease prevention.

Exploring UK older adults' dietary fibre consumption habits and associated factors: a national diet and nutrition survey perspective.

The UK population is living longer; therefore, promoting healthy ageing via positive nutrition could have widespread public health implications. Moreover, dietary fibre intake is associated with health benefits; however, intake is below UK recommendations (30 g/d). Utilising national dietary survey data can provide up-to-date information on a large representative cohort of UK older adults, so that tailored solutions can be developed in the future. This study used cross-sectional data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (years 2008-2009 to 2018-2019) for older adults' (n 1863; 65-96 years) dietary fibre intake (three-to-four-day food diaries), top ten dietary fibre-rich foods, associated factors (demographics, dietary/lifestyle habits) and various health outcomes (anthropometric, blood and urine). Mean dietary fibre intake was 18·3 g/d (range: 2·9-55·1 g/d); therefore, below the UK dietary recommendations, with compliance at 5·7 %. In addition, there were five significant associations (P < 0·05) related to lower dietary fibre intake such as increasing age group, without own natural teeth, impaired chewing ability, lower education leaving age and poor general health. Older adults' key foods containing dietary fibre were mainly based on convenience such as baked beans, bread and potatoes. Positively, higher dietary fibre consumption was significantly associated (P = 0·007) with reduced diastolic blood pressure. In summary, the benefits of dietary fibre consumption were identified in terms of health outcomes and oral health were key modulators of intake. Future work should focus on a life course approach and the role of food reformulation to help increase dietary fibre intake.

Consumption of a Sourdough-Leavened Croissant Enriched with a Blend of Fibers Influences Fasting Blood Glucose in a Randomized Controlled Trial in Healthy Subjects

BackgroundAn incorrect lifestyle, including diet, is responsible for the worldwide dramatic increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Increasing dietary fiber consumption may lead to health benefits, and reformulation of bakery products may be a strategy to globally improve the diet. ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the impact of a 2-wk breakfast consumption with a sourdough-leavened croissant containing a blend of dietary fiber from 10 sources (4.8 g/100 g, croissant enriched with dietary fibers [FIBCRO]), compared with a control croissant (dietary fibers 1.3 g/100 g, CONCRO) on daily energy intake, appetite, metabolic variables, and the gut microbiome. MethodsThirty-two healthy participants were randomly allocated to 2 groups consuming FIBCRO or CONCRO. Participants self-recorded their diet and appetite through 7-d weighted food diaries and visual analog scales every day over the 2 wk. At baseline and after the intervention, fasting blood and urine samples, and fecal samples were collected beside blood pressure, anthropometry, and body composition. Serum glucose, lipids, C-reactive protein, and insulin according to the official methods and serum dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPPIV) activity by photometric method were measured. Polyphenols and urolithins in urines were analyzed by Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), whereas gut microbiome in feces by shotgun metagenomics. ResultsFIBCRO consumption improved fasting blood glucose compared with CONCRO (mean changes from baseline −2.0 mg/dL in FIBCRO compared with +3.1 mg/dL in CONCRO, P = 0.022), also reducing serum DPPIV activity by 1.7 IU/L (P = 0.01) and increasing urinary excretion of urolithin A-sulfate by 6.9 ng/mg creatinine (P = 0.04) compared with baseline. No further changes in any of the monitored variables or in the gut microbiome were detected. ConclusionsResults suggested that a 2-wk consumption of a sourdough croissant claimed as “source of dietary fiber” improved fasting glycemia compared with a conventional sourdough croissant in healthy subjects. The reduced serum DPPIV activity and increased bioavailability of urolithin likely contributed to determine that effect independently from gut microbiome changes.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04999280.

Dietary fiber of jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus L., Fabaceae) tuber ameliorates kidney structure and function in mice fed with high-sucrose drink

Frequent consumption of high-sugar drinks (HSD) including sugar-sweetened beverages has been associated with the development of kidney disease. Otherwise, proper intake of dietary fiber extracted from the tuber of jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus L., Fabaceae) is shown to exert counteractive effects against HSD-induced metabolic syndrome including diabetes. However, it remains unelucidated whether the incorporation of jicama fiber in the diet could exert a beneficial effect on kidney function. This study aimed to elucidate the protective effect of jicama fiber in the diet against kidney disease caused by HSD. A total of thirty adult male albino mice were randomly assigned into three groups, the control group (fed with distilled water drink and standard diet), the high-sucrose drink group (HSD; fed with 30% sucrose solution drink and standard diet), and the high-sucrose drink + JF group (HSD + JF; fed with 30% sucrose drink and a standard diet supplemented with 25% of jicama fiber). The treatments were performed for ten weeks followed by the measurements of fasting blood glucose, plasma creatinine and kidney indices including urine protein, urine specific gravity, and refractive index and the examination of histopathological alterations in the kidney. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of JF in the diet at the dose of 25% could effectively counteract the elevation of fasting blood glucose and indicators of kidney damage including plasma creatinine, urine protein, urine specific gravity, and urine refractive index caused by HSD. However, JF failed to prevent HSD-induced mass reduction of the kidney but could ameliorate histopathological alterations in the kidney. Furthermore, JF effectively prevented tubular atrophy and fibrosis in the kidney in HSD-treated mice. Therefore, supplementation of the diet with JF at the dose of 25% could be effective in protecting the kidney against HSD. Thus, proper consumption of dietary fiber of jicama tuber has the potential to reduce HSD-induced kidney disease.

The Relationship Between Dietary Fiber Consumption Patterns and Physical Activity with the Incidence of Hemorrhoids

The purpose of this study was to explain the relationship between fiber food consumption patterns and physical activity with hemorrhoidal events. This study used a retrospective correlational analytic study design. The population in this study were patients with signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids in the General Surgery Specialist Poly of Petrokimia Gresik Hospital as many as 89 respondents, with sampling using purposive sampling and 72 respondents were obtained. Data analysis using the Chi-square test. Data collection using a fiber food consumption pattern questionnaire, a physical activity questionnaire, and the results of the diagnosis of the General Surgeon Specialist in the respondent's Medical Record. The results of statistical analysis with the Chi-square test with a significance level of alpha &lt;0.05 obtained a p-value of 0.001 and 0.000, which means that there is a relationship between fiber food consumption patterns and physical activity with hemorrhoidal incidence. Insufficient fiber food consumption patterns cause feces to settle longer in the rectum so that the consistency of feces will become harder. This condition stimulates a straining reflex to appear during defecation, causing hemorrhoids. Meanwhile, a pattern of physical activity that is lacking causes continuous and repeated pressure on the lower part of the digestive tract, causing vascularization to be less than optimal and causing hemorrhoids. This study is expected to be a reference for hospitals to be able to add educational media and health promotion as an effort to prevent hemorrhoidal incidence in the community and prevent recurrence in patients who have undergone hemorrhoid treatment.

Studies on the Comparative Response of Fibers Obtained from the Pastazzo of Citrus bergamia and Cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica on In Vitro Model of Neuroinflammation.

Adhering to a healthy diet has a protective effect on human health, including a decrease in inflammatory diseases due to consuming fiber. The purpose of this manuscript was to obtain and compare two extracts based on fiber (BF and IF-C), derived from two plants particularly present in the Mediterranean region: bergamot (Citrus bergamia) and prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica). The parts used by these plants have been the "pastazzo" for the bergamot and the cladodes for the prickly pear. In addition to in vitro evaluations, the antioxidant activity was also measured on human neurons under inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, the extracts of interest were examined for their effects on the cell cycle and the regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins, caspase 9 and 3, induced by LPS. The results indicated that both extracts had a protective effect against LPS-induced damage, with BF consistently exhibiting superior functionality compared to IF-C. Moreover, the extracts can reduce inflammation, which is a common process of disease. By exploring this avenue, studying the consumption of dietary fiber could enhance our understanding of its positive effects, but additional experiments are needed to confirm this.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The Significant Impact of Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Their Quantification.

Globally, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major threat to the public's health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by the gut microbiota has been reported to have the potential to reduce the prevalence of T2DM, particularly in LMICs where the disease is becoming more common. Dietary fibers are the primary source of SCFAs; they can be categorized as soluble (such as pectin and inulin) or insoluble (such as resistant starches). Increased consumption of processed carbohydrates, in conjunction with insufficient consumption of dietary fiber, has been identified as a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, there are still controversies over the therapeutic advantages of SCFAs on human glucose homeostasis, due to a lack of studies in this area. Hence, a few questions need to be addressed to gain a better understanding of the beneficial link between SCFAs and glucose metabolism. These include the following: What are the biochemistry and biosynthesis of SCFAs? What role do SCFAs play in the pathology of T2DM? What is the most cost-effective strategy that can be employed by LMICs with limited laboratory resources to enhance their understanding of the beneficial function of SCFAs in patients with T2DM? To address the aforementioned questions, this paper aims to review the existing literature on the protective roles that SCFAs have in patients with T2DM. This paper further discusses possible cost-effective and accurate strategies to quantify SCFAs, which may be recommended for implementation by LMICs as preventive measures to lower the risk of T2DM.

“Wait, Do I Need More Fiber?” Exploring UK Consumers’ Dietary Fiber-Related Awareness and White Bread as a Viable Solution to Promote Subsequent Intake

BackgroundSufficient dietary fiber consumption is associated with well-established health benefits, yet such intake is currently suboptimal globally. Thus, there is interest in developing strategies to improve dietary fiber intake. One such approach is to increase the dietary fiber content of staple foods, but this needs relevant investigation. MethodsForty-two United Kingdom (UK) based consumers (18–76 y) were recruited to take part in seven focus group sessions investigating: (i) key factors in food choice; (ii) dietary fiber-related knowledge, awareness, consumption habits, and engagement levels; (iii) willingness to consume dietary fiber-rich staple foods; and (iv) gain initial feedback on dietary fiber-rich breads. ResultsOverall, key dietary fiber themes emerged such as knowledge (benefits, foods, recommendations and labeling), consumption (not measuring intake), barriers (convenience and knowledge), resources (education and public appeal), and topics (food examples and cooking). Consumers were positive per se to the idea of dietary fiber-rich staple foods but with various caveats (no changes in appearance, taste, and cost). White bread trends were centered around context (sandwich and toast), habit (comfort food), preferences (soft and fresh), and consumption is variable (daily to less often). In addition, consumers’ preferred labeling strategy for dietary fiber-rich breads was predominately focused on transparency and visibility. Overall, the newly developed breads were well received demonstrating the potential of our prototypes to fit into the white bread market; however, additional consumer insights are needed. ConclusionOur findings recommend combining education with a personalized element of advice, coupled with a collective effort from the government and food industry, as essential to help encourage a step-change in dietary fiber consumption in the UK population.

Dietary fiber induces a fat preference associated with the gut microbiota.

Eating behavior is essential to human health. However, whether future eating behavior is subjected to the conditioning of preceding dietary composition is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary fiber consumption on subsequent nutrient-specific food preferences between palatable high-fat and high-sugar diets and explore its correlation with the gut microbiota. C57BL/6NJcl male mice were subjected to a 2-week dietary intervention and fed either a control (n = 6) or inulin (n = 6) diet. Afterward, all mice were subjected to a 3-day eating behavioral test to self-select from the simultaneously presented high-fat and high-sugar diets. The test diet feed intakes were recorded, and the mice's fecal samples were analyzed to evaluate the gut microbiota composition. The inulin-conditioned mice exhibited a preference for the high-fat diet over the high-sugar diet, associated with distinct gut microbiota composition profiles between the inulin-conditioned and control mice. The gut microbiota Oscillospiraceae sp., Bacteroides acidifaciens, and Clostridiales sp. positively correlated with a preference for fat. Further studies with fecal microbiota transplantation and eating behavior-related neurotransmitter analyses are warranted to establish the causal role of gut microbiota on host food preferences. Food preferences induced by dietary intervention are a novel observation, and the gut microbiome may be associated with this preference.

Relationship between dietary fiber intake and chronic diarrhea in adults.

Dietary fiber is essential for human health and can help reduce the symptoms of constipation. However, the relationship between dietary fiber and diarrhea is, poorly understood. To evaluate the relationship between dietary fiber and chronic diarrhea. This retrospective study was conducted using data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted between 2005 and 2010. Participants over the age of 20 were included. To measure dietary fiber consumption, two 24-hour meal recall interviews were conducted. The independent relationship between the total amount of dietary fiber and chronic diarrhea was evaluated with multiple logistic regression and interaction analysis. Data from 12829 participants were analyzed. Participants without chronic diarrhea consumed more dietary fiber than participants with chronic diarrhea (29.7 vs 28.5, P = 0.004). Additionally, in participants with chronic diarrhea, a correlation between sex and dietary fiber intake was present: Women who consume more than 25 g of dietary fiber daily can reduce the occurrence of chronic diarrhea. Dietary fiber can reduce the occurrence of chronic diarrhea.

Prebiotic Dietary Fiber Consumption Confers Resilience to Psychological Stress

Prebiotic Dietary Fiber Consumption Confers Resilience to Psychological Stress

Designing gel coatings for oral soft perception of fiber particles

Promoting the consumption of dietary fibers (DF) is important for public health but also for sustainability reasons. However, the key barrier toward DF consumption is their negative mouthfeel typically associated with grittiness, particle detection, mouth dryness caused by particle-oral surface contact. Hereby, we developed a novel approach based on creating a gel layer around pea fiber particles to decrease negative mouthfeel caused by the presence of the pea fibers. The current process and formulation used allowed to entrap up to ∼2 % w/w pea fibers with an encapsulation efficiency ∼95%. Sensory analysis demonstrated that the gel coating approach is an effective strategy to significantly decrease up to 52 %, 42 %, and 36 % the amount of perceived particles, grittiness, and mouth dryness, respectively. Furthermore, the gel coatings showed a decrease in coating efficiency of ∼15% after being exposed to shear stress. More stress resistant gel coatings can be manufactured increasing the gel coating strength. Finally, this study proposes a new effective strategy to improve the palatability of DF to design healthier and more sustainable products.

Improvement of insulin sensitivity by dietary fiber consumption during late pregnant sows is associated with gut microbiota regulation of tryptophan metabolism

BackgroundDietary fiber (DF) consumption was reported to improve insulin sensitivity, change the tryptophan metabolism, and alter the gut microbiota. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the effects of DF consumption on insulin sensitivity, tryptophan metabolism, and gut microbiota composition in sows during late pregnancy, and explore the relationship between tryptophan metabolites and insulin sensitivity regulated by DF supplementation.ResultsTwelve sows were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment groups (six/group): the low-fiber (LF) group, which was fed a basal diet, and the high-fiber (HF) group, which was fed the basal diet supplemented with 22.60 g/kg inulin and 181.60 g/kg cellulose. During late pregnancy, meal test, glucose tolerance test, and insulin challenge test were used to investigate the insulin sensitivity of sows, using the percutaneous brachiocephalic vein catheterization technique. High DF consumption resulted in improved insulin sensitivity, especially during the second and third trimesters, and promoted serotonin production from tryptophan. Additionally, plasma serotonin concentration was positively correlated with the insulin sensitivity index during late pregnancy. Moreover, DF consumption elevated fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, altered fecal microbial diversity, and increased the abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Alloprevotella, Parabacteroides, Roseburia, and Sphaerochaeta, which were positively correlated to plasma serotonin concentration.ConclusionsDF consumption improved insulin sensitivity during late pregnancy in sows, which improved microbial diversity in fecal samples and increased fecal SCFA concentrations, resulting in a positive correlation with plasma serotonin level.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the dietary fiber menu provision and consumption for older adults living in residential care facilities

BackgroundOlder adults living in residential care facilities are commonly given laxatives to treat constipation; however, these may not always provide full relief, and side effects include diarrhea. Dietary fiber effectively prevents constipation, and international guidelines recommend 25 g/d for optimal laxation. Older adults in residential care rely on the facility menu to provide their nutritional requirements, including adequate dietary fiber. Little is known about how much dietary fiber is provided and consumed. ObjectivesWe aimed to determine the provision and consumption of dietary fiber for older adults living in residential care facilities. MethodsWe systematically searched available literature for studies reporting the analysis of residential care menus and meals consumed by residents aged over 65 y. A meta-analysis was performed on the studies that provided the mean amount of dietary fiber provided and consumed by residents. A random effect model was applied due to the heterogeneity of study methodologies. ResultsThe literature search yielded 4406 publications, but only 28 studies were eligible for our meta-analysis. The study sample comprised 4817 residents. The mean amount of fiber provided to residents was 21.4 g/d [standard error (SE): 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 18.8, 24.2 g/d], the mean amount of fiber consumed by residents was 15.8 g/d (SE: 0.6; 95% confidence interval: 14.7, 16.9 g/d). ConclusionsOlder adults living in care facilities are provided with dietary fiber below the recommended guidelines. Compounding this is that residents consume much less than what is provided and do not meet the recommendations for dietary fiber consumption. There is scope to improve dietary fiber provision, promote consumption to residents to aid laxation, and potentially reduce laxative use and the unwanted side effects of diarrhea.This trial was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023427265.