Fiber - Skildum

Question 1

What are pre-biotics?

An example?

Answer 1

Basically food for bacteria in the gut

Ex = fructans

Question 2

We know that all types of fiber decrease nutrient uptake, but do soluble or insoluble fibers increase transit time through the GI tract?

Answer 2

Soluble fibers (viscous and non-viscous) increase transit time through the GI.

Insoluble fibers decrease intestinal transit time
(they also increase fecal bulk)

Question 3

Which has a higher glycemic index, a food with high fiber or low fiber?

Answer 3

High fiber foods have lower glycemic index

Question 4

What are the beneficial effects of a diet high in fiber?

Answer 4

• decreased lipid absorbtion (inhibits micelles)
• lowered serum cholesterol concentration (bile acids excreted)
• Enhanced microbiome of gut (good pre-biotic AND bacteria generate short-chain FA’s)
• Increased fecal bulk (decreases diverticulosis)

Question 5

What seems to be the connection between a healthy microbiome, fiber, and inflammation?

Answer 5

Microbiota in the gut convert fiber to short-chain fatty acids.
These SCFA’s have an anti-inflammatory effect through activating the GPR43 receptor.

Question 6

How does the infant microbiome interact with breast milk to enhance their immune system?

Answer 6

Breast milk actually contains undigestible fiber oligosaccharides. (HMO’s)
HMO’s are digested by gut bacteria and enter the blood
They can act as decoy receptors preventing pathogen attachment to cellular sites. They also modify the gut microbiome.

Question 7

Apart from immune cells, where do Short-chain fatty acids exert important effects?

Answer 7

GPR43 receptors are also found on adipose cells.

Here they inhibit insulin-dependent storage of fatty acids. Instead these FA’s are used by other tissues (liver, muscle)