Research into the microorganisms that live in our gastrointestinal tract isrotate‘Nutrition Science.
Over the past few years, dietary fiber has become a “new protein” and is added to food in abundance to nourish the gut microbiota and improve health.
However, studies on mice published in 2024 suggest that not all fiber supplements are equally beneficial.
Easy to see form called oats and barley Beta GlucanIt can control blood sugar and help lose weight in mice fed a high-fat diet.
Researchers at the University of Arizona (UA) and the University of Vienna said it was the only type of fiber supplement that lost fat content and weight in mice within 18 weeks.
Other fibers they considered, such as wheat dextrin, pectin, resistant starch, and cellulose, had no such effect despite significantly shifting the composition of the mice’s microbiome compared to mice that did not give fiber supplements.
“We know that fibers are important and beneficial. The problem is that there are so many different types of fiber.” I explained it In July, UA biomedical scientist Frank Duca.
“We wanted to know what types of fiber would be most beneficial in improving weight loss and glucose homeostasis, so we were able to notify the community, consumers and also inform the agricultural industry.”
Nutritional fiber is Main energy sources For the bacteria that live in our organs, and But less than 5% Consumers of the US People Recommended 25-30 grams (0.9-1 ounces) Fiber for a day.
To compensate for this, foods infused with fiber supplements and “invisible fiber” are becoming increasingly popular. However, the fibers are very diverse, which one would you choose?
Oat Beta – Some fibers, like glucan and wheat dextrin, are water –Solublethat is, they are easily fermented by intestinal bacteria.
Others, such as cellulose and resistant starch, are soluble or insoluble. Stick to other materials to form stool.
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Until now, I’m writing UA and her fellow biomedical scientist Elizabeth Howard said, “No studies have investigated the role of different fibers in one cohort.”
To compensate for this, in the current study, several forms of fiber were tested in one cohort of mice. Only beta glucans were found to increase Ilebacterium Found in the intestines of mice. other Research on mice I linked this bacteria to weight loss.
Sure enough, long before the 10-week marker, mice fed betagglucan showed a decrease in body weight and body fat content compared to mice fed other forms of fiber.
The findings are consistent with another recent one. study By Duca, who fed rodents with beta-glucan-rich barley flour. The rats continued to eat many of their high-fat diets as before, but they increased their energy expenditure and lost weight anyway.
Similar results were observed in mice fed betagglucan in a new study. These animals also showed increased butyrate concentrations in the intestine. This is a metabolite produced when microorganisms break down fibers.
Butyrate induces the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This is a natural protein that synthetic drugs like Ozempic stimulate insulin release.
“Part of the benefits of consuming dietary fiber is due to the release of GLP-1 and other intestinal peptides that regulate appetite and weight.” I said Doka.
“But I don’t think that’s the whole effect. I think there are other beneficial things that are not related to intestinal peptides, such as improving physical health or targeting peripheral organs like the liver.”
Although much more research is needed before extending these results to humans, the findings suggest that some fibers may be more suited to weight loss and insulin control than others.
This study was published in Journal of Nutrition.
An earlier version of this article was published in July 2024.
