Effects of Dietary Fiber on the Function of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

In the present paper, I summarize the data suggesting the effects of dietary fiber on the function of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The chemical and physical properties of dietary fibers are associated with gastrointestinal functions that have important metabolic implications for health. Both properties of dietary fiber include viscosity, bulking capacity and fermentability. These properties are associated with morphological changes, crypt cell production, intestinal mucin secretion, the activity of small intestinal brush border enzymes and gastrointestinal peptides (gut hormones). A variety of experimental method will lead to different observations. This discrepancy may be due to the level and type of fiber added. Further studies are needed to establish the effect of human gastrointestinal tract by the adequate experimental conditions. It is also expected that these observation are adopted to the clinical nutrition such as prevention of metabolic syndrome, parenteral nutrition, and gut disease.