The interaction between dietary fiber and gut microbiota, and its effect on pig intestinal health.

Intestinal health is closely associated with overall animal health and performance and, consequently, influences the production efficiency and profit in feed and animal production systems. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the main site of the nutrient digestive process and the largest immune organ in the host, and the gut microbiota colonizing the GIT plays a key role in maintaining intestinal health. Dietary fiber (DF) is a key factor in maintaining normal intestinal function. The biological functioning of DF is mainly achieved by microbial fermentation, which occurs mainly in the distal small and large intestine. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main class of microbial fermentation metabolites, are the main energy supply for intestinal cells. SCFAs help to maintain normal intestinal function, induce immunomodulatory effects to prevent inflammation and microbial infection, and are vital for the maintenance of homeostasis. Moreover, because of its distinct characteristics (e.g. solubility), DF is able to alter the composition of the gut microbiota. Therefore, understanding the role that DF plays in modulating gut microbiota, and how it influences intestinal health, is essential. This review gives an overview of DF and its microbial fermentation process, and investigates the effect of DF on the alteration of gut microbiota composition in pigs. The effects of interaction between DF and the gut microbiota, particularly as they relate to SCFA production, on intestinal health are also illustrated.

The effect of fiber supplementation on the prevention of diarrhea in hospitalized patients receiving enteral nutrition: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with the GRADE assessment.

Introduction: Enteral nutrition (EN) in hospitalized patients has several advantages. However, post-feeding diarrhea occurs frequently and has been linked to negative outcomes. The EN formula itself may have an impact on how diarrhea develops, and fiber supplements may theoretically help patients experience less diarrhea. This study aimed to thoroughly evaluate whether adding fiber to EN decreases the likelihood of developing diarrhea and whether different types of fibers pose different effects on diarrhea (PROSPERO CRD 42021279971). Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis on fiber supplementation in hospitalized adult patients receiving EN. We thoroughly searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from inception to 1 September 2022. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Pooled results on the incidence of diarrhea were calculated using a random-effects model. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach was applied. Only fiber types from soy polysaccharides (n = 4), psyllium (n = 3), mixed soluble/insoluble fiber (mixed fiber, n = 3), pectin (n = 2), and partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG, n = 2) were examined in the sensitivity analysis. Results: Among the 4,469 titles found, a total of 16 RCTs were included. Overall, compared to fiber-free formulas, fiber supplementation reduced the occurrence of diarrhea in patients receiving EN by 36% (pooled risk ratio [RR] of 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49-0.82, p = 0.005; I 2 = 45%]), with GRADE showing the evidence of moderate certainty. Only mixed fiber and PHGG significantly decreased the incidence of diarrhea according to the sensitivity analyses for fiber types (RR 0.54, 95%CI: 0.39-0.75, I 2 = 0% and RR 0.47, 95%CI: 0.27-0.83, I 2 = 0%, respectively). The results for the remaining fiber types were unclear. Conclusion: According to a meta-analysis, fiber supplements help lessen post-feeding diarrhea in hospitalized patients receiving EN. However, not all fiber types produced successful outcomes. Diarrhea was significantly reduced by PHGG and mixed soluble/insoluble fiber. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=279971, identifier: PROSPERO CRD 42021279971.

Working for Long Hours Is Associated With Dietary Fiber Insufficiency.

It has been suggested that long working hours are associated with various diseases through dietary patterns. However, few studies have reported the association between working hours and dietary habits. Thus, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore the difference in dietary fiber intake by working hours. Data of a total of 10,760 workers in South Korea who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES), a nation-wide survey, were analyzed to determine different distributions of dietary fiber insufficiency using multiple logistic regression models. Fiber insufficiency proportion was different from working hour groups. 70.1% of the total population eat fiber insufficiently. Working <40 h group showed 66.8% of fiber insufficiency. But working more than 52 h group marked 73.2% of fiber insufficiency. Logistic regression analysis of 10,760 nation-wide study participants revealed that working for 41-52 h a week (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.18-1.47) and working for over 52 h a week (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.25-1.62) were significantly associated with insufficient fiber intake compared to workers with standard working hours (30-40 h a week). These associations were still robust in an adjusted model, with working for 41-52 h a week (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.27) and working for over 52 h (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.09-1.45) showing high associations with dietary fiber insufficiency. Those with long working hours tend to have insufficient intake of dietary fiber. To promote desirable dietary habits, intervention programs on working conditions should be considered.

Increasing the dietary fiber contents in isomaltooligosaccharides by dextransucrase reaction with sucrose as a glucosyl donor.

Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) have been widely used as alternative sweeteners owing to their stabilities, low calorigenic, and prebiotic properties. The aim of this research was to improve the functionality of conventionally produced IMOs by increasing dietary fiber (DF) content with newly synthesized α-(1,6)-linkages through the dextransucrase reaction. To optimize the reaction conditions, various combinations of IMO and sucrose concentrations were applied as acceptor and donor molecules, respectively. Soluble DF content in the enzymatically-modified IMOs increased significantly with the initial substrate mixture of 10 % sucrose and 20 % IMOs; both DF and IMO contents increased to 35 % and 54 %, respectively. It was clearly suggested a simple dextransucrase-involved bioprocess could be applied to increase the DF content to the IMOs produced via a conventional process without scarifying the original IMO contents. Thus, it will be expected that the DF-enhanced IMO products are potentially applicable as functional ingredients as sugar substitutes in the food industry.

Dietary fibers and cardiometabolic diseases.

The high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is largely attributable to the contemporary lifestyle that is often sedentary and includes a diet high in saturated fats and sugars and low ingestion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), fruit, vegetables, and fiber. Experimental data from both animals and humans suggest an association between increased dietary fiber (DF) intakes and improved plasma lipid profiles, including reduced low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations. These observations underline that the intake of DF may protect against heart disease and stroke.

Study on the adsorption of NO_2~- by four sorts of dietary fibres from seaweeds / 中国海洋药物

Objective The adsorption effects of four sorts of dietary fibres from seaweeds on exogenous NO~-_(2) were studied in vitro and in vivo.Methods By simulating the environment of stomach and small intestine in vitro,and feeding rat in vivo.At the same time,the adsorption effect of wheat bran was studied comparatively.Results The results showed that:(1) the adsorption effect of dietary fibres on NO~-_(2) were related with the pH and the species of dietary fibres.Under the simulated stomach environment,the adsorption capacity of Laminaria japonica was the strongest with 1.19 mg?g~(-1),the next was Eucheuma with 0.94 mg?g~(-1),and Sargassum was the weakest with 0.60 mg?g~(-1).The adsorption ratio of Laminaria japonica and Eucheuma was significantly higher than that of wheat bran(P