DF characteristic

GIT effect

Systemic effect

Water-holding capacity & viscosity

Slows gastric emptying;

Slows digestion, especially of protein and lipids;

Changes digesta mixing;

Associated with reduced plasma cholesterol;

Alteration of digestive enzyme activity;

Blunting of glycemic response;

Stimulates passage rate;

Bulking

Gastric distension;

Decrease food intake;

Changes in mixing & diffusion;

Adsorption of compounds (e.g. bile salts, polyphenols & minerals)

Increases bile acid excretion & other compounds;

Blood cholesterol; fermentation of polyphenols;

Retention of polyphenols until large intestine;

Encapsulation

Plant cell walls encapsulate e.g. starch granules;

Transport of starch (resistant) to LI for fermentation;

Fermentability

Increases microbial biomass & fermentation end-products (e.g. SCFA);

Energy for colonocytes; influences satiety; fecal bulking; “colonization resistance” to pathogens;

Induces selection of specific microbes;