healthful effects of dietary fiber: part 2 (preventing cardiovascular disease)

Micrograph of a heart with fibrosis (yellow) andamyloidosis (brown)
Source: en.wikipedia.org

It is known that populations who consume foods that are not pure, have lower cholesterol levels in the blood plasma. In this population there are also differences in the consumption of dietary fiber, as well as the consumption of other food components such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates, are also significantly different. Nonetheless, much evidence suggests that dietary fiber plays in lowering cholesterol levels specifically in the blood. Several studies using experimental animals and humans reported some dietary fiber components role in lowering cholesterol in blood serum.

The theory most widely accepted by scientists, that some components of dietary fiber is able to bind bile salts, thus preventing re-absorption from the gut, as well as increasing its excretion in the feces. This led to increased conversion of cholesterol from the blood serum into bile salts in the liver.

Not all dietary fiber have the same effectiveness in lowering cholesterol levels. Purified cellulose and wheat bran barely have the ability to lower serum cholesterol levels. However, alfalfa and oats fiber components are very effective in lowering serum cholesterol levels. Other fibers are shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol levels is pectin and gum.

Several studies have reported that physiologically, soluble dietary fiber (SDF) is more effective in reducing plasma cholesterol, also called low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and increased levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL). SDF is also beneficial for people with diabetes mellitus with its function as a reducing glucose absorption in the intestine. Another benefit of the SDF is to make the stomach feel full faster, so it is useful to maintain a normal weight.

The IDF is not very significant as a hypocholesterolemic agent, but a very important role in the prevention of gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation, haemoroid, colon cancer, infection appendicitis, diverticulosis, and colitis.