Triple boost for added fibre products

The firm backed three trials to look at how added fibres incorporated into a wide range of foods could contribute similar health benefits as "intact"​ fibres.

The first, published in the Journal of Nutrition, reported that 36 healthy adults consuming 20 grams of added fibre, in addition to their usual lower fibre diet which was approximately 1314g/day compared to the recommended 25g/day for women and 38g/day for men experienced improved laxation with minimal gastrointestinal tolerance issues.

Public health concern ​

"Since people aren't meeting their fibre goals with the foods they currently eat, adding fibres to foods is a realistic and simple way to address this global public health concern,"​ said Joanne Slavin of the University of Minnesota, an expert in fibre research and lead investigator of this study.

A second study presented at the American Society for Nutrition Experimental Biology conference in Boston, using a double-blind, randomised cross-over design found that an emerging fibre, soluble fibre, might help promote satiety, or the feeling of fullness, from three to 8.5 hours after consumption.

"This newly developed soluble fibre dextrin can increase fibre intake, helping consumers meet fibre recommendations, while simultaneously controlling their appetite, which may lead to reduced energy intake,"​ said Dr James Hollis, a lead researcher on the study.

A third study, also presented at the American Society for Nutrition Experimental Biology conference, assessed the effect of soluble corn fibre (SCF) faecal microbiota in relation to calcium absorption in 24 racially diverse, male and female adolescents a population in need of adequate calcium intake for bone growth and development

12% increase ​

Researchers from Purdue University found that when the adolescents consumed 12g/day of SCF versus a control, they experienced a 12% increase in calcium absorption. This increase in calcium absorption was correlated with significant increases in specific strains of beneficial bacteria, namely bacteroides, alistipes, butyricicoccus, oscillibacter, and dialister in the gut, suggesting that SCF might increase calcium absorption through changes in gut microbiota.

"Emerging research on soluble corn fibre indicates that added fibres provide health benefits such as increased calcium absorption via their effect on beneficial bacteria,"​ said Dr Connie Weaver, a lead researcher on this study.

This is the first study to show that increases in these specific bacteria were significantly correlated with the observed increase in calcium absorption.