Issue 2, 2010

Mechanisms underlying the cholesterol-lowering properties of soluble dietary fibre polysaccharides

Abstract

A number of studies have shown a positive relationship between diets rich in soluble dietary fibres (SDF) such as β-glucan, pectin, guar gum and psyllium, and reduced serum cholesterol and thus a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Three major biological mechanisms have been proposed to explain the cholesterol-reducing effects of SDF: prevention of bile salt (BS) re-absorption from the small intestine leading to an excess faecal BS excretion; reduced glycemic response leading to lower insulin stimulation of hepatic cholesterol synthesis; and physiological effects of fermentation products of SDF, mainly propionate. Evidence for the latter mechanism is inconclusive, whereas in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro experiments suggest that BS micelles “bind” to SDF preventing their re-absorption. Whereas, glycemic responses to SDF have been studied extensively, the nature of interactions between bile salt micelles and SDF that lead to incomplete BS re-absorption are poorly defined. Three potential physicochemical mechanisms are proposed together with suggestions for in vitro experiments to test them.

Graphical abstract: Mechanisms underlying the cholesterol-lowering properties of soluble dietary fibre polysaccharides

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
16 Jul 2010
Accepted
31 Aug 2010
First published
30 Sep 2010

Food Funct., 2010,1, 149-155

Mechanisms underlying the cholesterol-lowering properties of soluble dietary fibre polysaccharides

P. Gunness and M. J. Gidley, Food Funct., 2010, 1, 149 DOI: 10.1039/C0FO00080A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements