Dietary Fibers-Classification, Properties, Analysis and Function: A Review

Abstract

Dietary Fiber (DF) is a plant bioactive compound, mainly a mixture of complex organic soluble and non-soluble polysaccharides that is non-digestible and less hydrophobic. This dietary fiber is one of nutritional supplements that demonstrated to ha ve impact on human and animal health. Chemical structures, sources, classification, methods of analysis and therapeutic functions of DF are under investigation by researchers for diseases prevention and enhanc ing immune response. Dietary Fiber (DF) is diverse organic chemicals with higher molecular weight (HMW) over 10 DP and lower molecular weight of lower under 10 DP and can be classified generally by their solubility, viscosity, and fermentability. Dietary fiber is non-digestible by enteric enzymes and passes through small intestine into the colon intake where is fer mented by enteric microbial biomass into beneficial metabolites and short chains fatty acids. Other health benefits from the acceptable daily intake such as adsorption of bile salts, polyphenols, and minerals. In addition to, influence gastrointestinal tract physiology where it has high water holding capacity and viscosity resulted in feeling satiety, alternate digestive enzymes activity, improve d gastric emptying, and increase healthy microbial biomass in the colon.