Dietary Fibre New Frontiers For Food And Health

Dietary fibre research is rapidly evolving and is stimulated by the growing attention for intestinal health which is needed for combating major disorders such as diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases and obesity. Current research also explores relationships between fibres, the immune system and stress. The recently agreed EU and CODEX definitions for dietary fibre - including all polymeric carbohydrates not digested in the small intestine - provide both clarity and new challenges regarding adequate analysis and concerning the requirements for added fibre. Added fibre should have 'a physical effect of benefit to health as demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence to competent authorities'. Novel research tools from genomics toolboxes and advanced systems simulating the gastro-intestinal tract, are enabling researchers to obtain insights in the wide range of structure function relationships of different types of dietary fibre. These include the impact of dietary fibre on the gut microbiota and relationships between prebiotics and peptides involved in regulation of satiety and other functions. New technologies steadily increase the range of fibres, with and without anti-oxidants and other beneficial co-passengers, which are available to food processors. Dietary fibre - new frontiers for food and health covers the most up-to-date research available on dietary fibre and will be an indispensable tool for all scientists and technologists involved in research and development in this field.

The growing attention for healthy eating, intestinal health, combating major disorders such as obesity and diabetes and prevention of cardio-vascular diseases and cancer, has resulted in an increased output of R&D on dietary fibre and related carbohydrates. In recent years, hundreds of new products have been launched annually with claims regarding their fibre content. Existing and new fibres are also increasingly incorporated in products for specific target groups, such as babies, farm animals, pets and for clinical nutrition. New research tools and insights are enabling researchers to obtain a much better insight in the mechanisms of action of bio-active carbohydrates. These include new analytical methods, model systems to measure the impact of fibre on processes in the gastro-intestinal tract and the identification and measurement of new biomarkers, for example markers related to satiety. These insights and tools, will significantly contribute to R&D on ingredients and products aiming at imparting significant health benefits. In this book invited expert scientists of leading research groups all over the world will address the following issues: Definitions, health claims and new challenges, Analytical tools, technological aspects and applications, Health Benefits of dietary fibre, including both authoritative generic reviews and papers describing the impact on health of specific types of fibre and Health aspects for target groups, with broad overviews on issues related to dietary fibre in clinical nutrition and in food for pets. Dietary fibre: bio-active carbohydrates for food and feed will therefore cover 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.

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.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Dietary Fibers and Human Health" that was published in Nutrients

Dietary Fiber: Properties, Recovery and Applications explores the properties and health effects of dietary fiber, along with new trends in recovery procedures and applications. The book covers the most trending topics of dietary fiber applications, emphasizing polyphenol properties, bioavailability and metabolomics, target sources, recovery and emerging technologies, technological aspects, stability during processing, and applications in the food, beverage and nutraceutical sectors. Written by a team of experts in the field of dietary fiber, this book is ideal for chemists, food scientists, technologists, new product developers and academics. Thoroughly explores dietary fiber properties and health effects in light of new trends in recovery procedures and applications Covers issues in three critical dimensions: properties, recovery and applications Focuses on applications in food additives, as well as recovery from plant processing by-products

"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.