The Role of Fiber in Health
Fiber, in ordinary nutrition, is known to provide roughage for the good bowel function. With generous amount of water, soluble fiber is broken down by gut microbes, through fermentation, to yield short chain organic acids that stimulate peristalsis. Insoluble fiber equally increases bulk and aids bowel movement.Taken with little water, it adsorbs water and prevents diarrhea.
However, there's more to fiber than the regulation of the bowel. The short-chain organic acids, mainly acetate, propionate and butyrate, are anti-inflammatory. They are absorbed, get to the epithelium and kill pathogens which trigger inflammation and autoimmunity. Hence, a diet rich in fiber will fight against chronic infections by dispersing biofilm. It provides eustress, through mild irritation, promoting low level oxidation that can trigger anti-oxidation, repairs, stem cell formation, and prompt rejuvenation.
Pathogens in dispersed biofilm are more readily killed by antibiotics and immunity. Fermenting bacteria will have a competitive advantage over a pathogen in the gut biofilm. For one thing, they have enzymes that will break down biofilm to monosaccharides and further to short-chain fatty acids. The acid will facilitate the breaking of the glycosyl bond in the polymeric glycan in the biofilm to yield dextrin and glucose that will further be fermented into more short-chain fatty acids.
Atherosclerosis has been linked to immunity from chronic infections. The damaging effect of immune cells on the collagen of the blood vessels, creates crevices for the deposition of oxidized low density lipoprotein that leads to the formation of foam cells and atheroma.(oxidation modifies macromolecules making them look 'foreign', hence target for autoimmunity). Equally, the stiffening of the arterial wall will reduce compliance and lead to hypertension.
Short-chain fatty acids facilitate glucose absorption but increase insulin secretion and glucose uptake in tissues . The fiber source gives the diet low glycemic index. These fatty acids inhibit de novo lipogenesis(lipid synthesis, including of cholesterol) and, to a lesser extent, lipolysis while activating fatty acid oxidation especially of dietary fat. Overall, fat storage in adipose tissue is reduced. Hence, good glycemic index and optimal blood glucose and cholesterol levels are maintained. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are therefore kept in check. Short-chain fatty are more easily broken than stored--they don't have to go through the peroxisome before being broken down in the mitochondria nor do they need an active transporter to get through the membrane into the mitochondrial matrix for oxidation.
It has also been postulated that short-chain fatty acid, butyrate, is responsible for the life-span extension and rejuvenating effect of calorie restriction. Butyrate is a product of both microbial fermentation as well as of ketosis(fat metabolism) in humans.
The effects of butyrate and propionate are believed to be caused by their propensities to inhibit histone deaceylase which leads to improved, regulated transcription. Hence, antibiotic peptide production is upregulated and the immune system is well regulated. Higher levels of butyrate are apoptotic to senescent cells and antitumor--the levels rise in senescent and cancer cells due to their inabilities to utilize these short-chain fatty acids, as a result of lactic acid produced within these cells. Cancer cells prioritize glycolysis and senescent cells are poor in the embedded mitochondria. Lower levels of butyrate in normal cells, however, promote cell proliferation.
It is anti-inflammatory, anti-autoimmunity and anti-allergic through its antimicrobial and low level oxidation-evoked(mild irritation) anti-oxidation and repair activity. Homeostasis is better executed when genes are activated at the right time when needed. The inhibition of histone deacetylase by short chain fatty acids does just that. Runaway(deregulated) inflammation scrambles metabolism, damage cells, including islet cells. Excessive stress phosphorylates hydrolytic enzymes and produces free radicals that damage metabolic enzymes and organelles of the body. Without proper metabolic processes, the body functions below par.
Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso, MD.
.
However, there's more to fiber than the regulation of the bowel. The short-chain organic acids, mainly acetate, propionate and butyrate, are anti-inflammatory. They are absorbed, get to the epithelium and kill pathogens which trigger inflammation and autoimmunity. Hence, a diet rich in fiber will fight against chronic infections by dispersing biofilm. It provides eustress, through mild irritation, promoting low level oxidation that can trigger anti-oxidation, repairs, stem cell formation, and prompt rejuvenation.
Pathogens in dispersed biofilm are more readily killed by antibiotics and immunity. Fermenting bacteria will have a competitive advantage over a pathogen in the gut biofilm. For one thing, they have enzymes that will break down biofilm to monosaccharides and further to short-chain fatty acids. The acid will facilitate the breaking of the glycosyl bond in the polymeric glycan in the biofilm to yield dextrin and glucose that will further be fermented into more short-chain fatty acids.
Atherosclerosis has been linked to immunity from chronic infections. The damaging effect of immune cells on the collagen of the blood vessels, creates crevices for the deposition of oxidized low density lipoprotein that leads to the formation of foam cells and atheroma.(oxidation modifies macromolecules making them look 'foreign', hence target for autoimmunity). Equally, the stiffening of the arterial wall will reduce compliance and lead to hypertension.
Short-chain fatty acids facilitate glucose absorption but increase insulin secretion and glucose uptake in tissues . The fiber source gives the diet low glycemic index. These fatty acids inhibit de novo lipogenesis(lipid synthesis, including of cholesterol) and, to a lesser extent, lipolysis while activating fatty acid oxidation especially of dietary fat. Overall, fat storage in adipose tissue is reduced. Hence, good glycemic index and optimal blood glucose and cholesterol levels are maintained. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are therefore kept in check. Short-chain fatty are more easily broken than stored--they don't have to go through the peroxisome before being broken down in the mitochondria nor do they need an active transporter to get through the membrane into the mitochondrial matrix for oxidation.
It has also been postulated that short-chain fatty acid, butyrate, is responsible for the life-span extension and rejuvenating effect of calorie restriction. Butyrate is a product of both microbial fermentation as well as of ketosis(fat metabolism) in humans.
The effects of butyrate and propionate are believed to be caused by their propensities to inhibit histone deaceylase which leads to improved, regulated transcription. Hence, antibiotic peptide production is upregulated and the immune system is well regulated. Higher levels of butyrate are apoptotic to senescent cells and antitumor--the levels rise in senescent and cancer cells due to their inabilities to utilize these short-chain fatty acids, as a result of lactic acid produced within these cells. Cancer cells prioritize glycolysis and senescent cells are poor in the embedded mitochondria. Lower levels of butyrate in normal cells, however, promote cell proliferation.
It is anti-inflammatory, anti-autoimmunity and anti-allergic through its antimicrobial and low level oxidation-evoked(mild irritation) anti-oxidation and repair activity. Homeostasis is better executed when genes are activated at the right time when needed. The inhibition of histone deacetylase by short chain fatty acids does just that. Runaway(deregulated) inflammation scrambles metabolism, damage cells, including islet cells. Excessive stress phosphorylates hydrolytic enzymes and produces free radicals that damage metabolic enzymes and organelles of the body. Without proper metabolic processes, the body functions below par.
Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso, MD.
.
Comments
Post a Comment