Dichotomous effect of dietary fiber in pediatrics : a narrative review of the health benefits and tolerance of fiber

© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited..

Dietary fibers are associated with favorable gastrointestinal, immune, and metabolic health outcomes when consumed at sufficient levels. Despite the well-described benefits of dietary fibers, children and adolescents continue to fall short of daily recommended levels. This gap in fiber intake (i.e., "fiber gap") might increase the risk of developing early-onset pediatric obesity and obesity-related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus into adulthood. The structure-dependent physicochemical properties of dietary fiber are diverse. Differences in solubility, viscosity, water-holding capacity, binding capability, bulking effect, and fermentability influence the physiological effects of dietary fibers that aid in regulating appetite, glycemic and lipidemic responses, and inflammation. Of growing interest is the fermentation of fibers by the gut microbiota, which yields both beneficial and less favorable end-products such as short-chain fatty acids (e.g., acetate, propionate, and butyrate) that impart metabolic and immunomodulatory properties, and gases (e.g., hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane) that cause gastrointestinal symptoms, respectively. This narrative review summarizes (1) the implications of fibers on the gut microbiota and the pathophysiology of pediatric obesity, (2) some factors that potentially contribute to the fiber gap with an emphasis on undesirable gastrointestinal symptoms, (3) some methods to alleviate fiber-induced symptoms, and (4) the therapeutic potential of whole foods and commonly marketed fiber supplements for improved health in pediatric obesity.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2024

Enthalten in:

European journal of clinical nutrition - (2024) vom: 13. März

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Basuray, Nandini [VerfasserIn]
Deehan, Edward C [VerfasserIn]
Vieira, Flávio T [VerfasserIn]
Avedzi, Hayford M [VerfasserIn]
Duke, Reena L [VerfasserIn]
Colín-Ramírez, Eloisa [VerfasserIn]
Tun, Hein M [VerfasserIn]
Zhang, Zhengxiao [VerfasserIn]
Wine, Eytan [VerfasserIn]
Madsen, Karen L [VerfasserIn]
Field, Catherine J [VerfasserIn]
Haqq, Andrea M [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Journal Article
Review

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 17.03.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status Publisher

doi:

10.1038/s41430-024-01429-5

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM369705440