Dietary Fibre Components And Functions

"Dietary fibre is of interest to both science and industry, and yet despite growing awareness of its benefits to health and nutrition, intakes remain below the recommended level. Industry has responded by developing new applications, products and processes to help consumers increase their fibre intake in a convenient way. While regulations on health claims are being developed for example in the EU, some countries have allowed the use of health claims to help promote consumer awareness of the benefits of a higher fibre intake, and to inform consumers of good sources of fibre. At the same time science is developing the concept of dietary fibre. The mechanisms and actual components behind the physiological effects are of particular interest, and so are the analytical tools to measure these. The fate of dietary fibre in the gut, where certain fibre components are fermented and converted by microbes gains a great deal of attention. The role of molecular weight and viscosity of dietary fibre components in determining the health benefits are also discussed. This book is essential reading for all researchers and those who concern themselves with bioprocesses and food technology. 'Dietary fibre components and functions' covers the most up-to-date research available on dietary fibre and will be an indispensable tool for all scientists involved in research and development in this field."

Dietary fibre is now recognized as a vital component of good daily nutrition, yet its properties and specific role in the digestive system are still being investigated. The involvement of government agencies, the food industry and health professionals - as well as public interest - make this global overview, Dietary Fibre - A Component of Food, an important contribution to the literature on the subject. The cooperation of experts from different research centers and their peer review of each other's papers enhance the value of the book, since it presents consolidated views and objective assessments on such key issues as fibre analysis and mineral bioavailability. The seventeen chapters are grouped into three sections. The background papers deal with biochemical and analytical characteristics: e.g. the physico-chemical properties of food polysaccharides and bacterial fermentation in the colon. The papers on physiological effects deal with the physiological function of dietary fibre throughout the gastrointestinal tract: its influence on protein, lipid and carbohydrate digestion and absorption and its role in bile acid metabolism and faecal bulking. The third section of papers focuses on the prevention and treatment of disease: gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemias.

Increasing fiber consumption can address, and even reverse the progression of pre-diabetes and other associated non-communicable diseases. Understanding the link between plant dietary fiber and gut health is a small step in reducing the heavy economic burden of metabolic disease risks for public health. This book provides an overview of the occurence, significance and factors affecting dietary fiber in plant foods in order to critically evaluate them with particular emphasis on evidence for their beneficial health effects.

Diet and Health examines the many complex issues concerning diet and its role in increasing or decreasing the risk of chronic disease. It proposes dietary recommendations for reducing the risk of the major diseases and causes of death today: atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (including heart attack and stroke), cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, and dental caries.

Dietary fibre technology is a sophisticated component of the food industry. This highly practical book presents the state-of-the-art and explains how the background science translates into commercial reality. An international team of experts has been assembled to offer both a global perspective and the nuts and bolts information relevant to those working in the commercial world. Coverage includes specific dietary fibre components (with overviews of chemistry, analysis and regulatory aspects of all key dietary fibres); measurement of dietary fibre and dietary fibre components (in-vitro and in-vivo); general aspects (eg chemical and physical nature; rheology and functionality; nutrition and health; and technological) and current hot topics. Ideal as an up-to-date overview of the field for food technologists; nutritionists and quality assurance and production managers.

Twenty years ago the very idea of an international conference on the fiber contained in plant food would have been totally inconceivable. At that time fiber was generally viewed as an inert component of food of no nutritional value and consequently consid ered as a contaminant, the removal of which would enhance the purity of a product. It was measured by a now obsolete and almost worthless test introduced in the last century for veterinary rather than human nutrition, and what was measured was referred to as "crude fiber," containing part of the cellulose and lignin but none of the numerous components of fiber now known to play important roles in the maintenance of health. There were a few lone voices prior to the last two decades who had extolled the laxative properties of the undigested portion of food, assuming that these were related to its irritant action on the bowel mucosa. In retrospect this was a total misconception, and "softage" would have been a more appropriate term than "roughage," since its presence insured soft, not irritating, colon content.

This important book reviews the current state of knowledge on the role of fibre in the diet.