Research on the intestinal flora isrevolutionIn nutrition, dietary fiber has become the “new protein” in recent years, being added in abundance to foods to nourish the gut and promote health.
However, a recent study in mice suggests that not all fiber supplements are equally beneficial.
It is found in large amounts in oats and barley. Beta-glucanwhich can control blood sugar levels and help mice lose weight when fed a high-fat diet.
Researchers from the University of Arizona (UA) and the University of Vienna say this was the only fiber supplement they tested that reduced fat content and body weight in mice within 18 weeks.
Other fibres tested, including wheat dextrin, pectin, resistant starch and cellulose, had no such effect, despite significantly altering the composition of the mice’s microbiota compared to mice that did not receive fibre supplements.
“We know fiber is important and beneficial. The problem is, there are so many different types of fiber.” explain Frank Duca, a biomedical scientist at the University of Arizona;
“We wanted to know which types of fiber are most effective for weight loss and improving glucose homeostasis so we could inform local communities, consumers and the agricultural industry.”
Dietary fiber is Main energy source Because of the bacteria that live in our gut, Less than 5% The consumption of people in the United States is Recommended: 25-30 grams (0.9-1 ounce) Consume fiber per day.
To compensate for this, fiber supplements and foods with invisible fiber are becoming increasingly popular. But with so many different types of fiber, how do you choose?
Some fibers, such as oat beta-glucan and wheat dextrin,SolubleOther substances, such as cellulose and resistant starch, are either poorly soluble or insoluble and therefore can be easily fermented by gut bacteria. Attaches to other substances to form feces.
until now, write “No studies have investigated the role of different fibres in a single cohort,” say biomedical scientist Elizabeth Howard of the University of Arizona and her colleagues.
To address this, the current study tested several forms of fiber in one cohort of mice. Only beta-glucan was Ilaibacterium It was found in the intestines of mice. Mouse studies This bacterium has been linked to weight loss.
As expected, well before the 10-week mark, the mice fed beta-glucan lost weight and body fat content compared to mice fed other forms of fiber.
The results are consistent with those of another recent study. study In a study conducted by Duca, when rodents were fed barley flour rich in beta-glucan, the animals increased their energy expenditure and lost weight, even though they continued to eat the same amount of high-fat food as before.
The new study found similar results in mice fed beta-glucan: These animals also had increased levels of butyrate, a metabolite produced when microbes break down fiber, in their gut.
Butyrate triggers the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a natural protein that synthetic drugs such as Ozempic mimic to stimulate insulin release.
“Part of the benefit of consuming dietary fiber is due to the release of GLP-1 and other gut peptides that regulate appetite and body weight.” explain Duca.
“But we don’t think that’s the whole story. We believe that butyrate may also have other beneficial effects that are unrelated to gut peptides, such as improving intestinal barrier health and targeting peripheral organs such as the liver.”
Although more research is needed before these results can be applied to humans, the findings suggest that some fibers may be better for weight loss and insulin control than others.
This study Nutrition Journal.
