DIETARY FIBRE - EASY NOTES

-- Dietary Fibre is the polysaccharide fraction of plant cell wall.

-- It is a form of starch that is resistant to hydrolysis

--Dietary fibre is important in animals for maintaining normal healthy intestinal tissues.

-- In humans it is not digested due to the absence of the enzyme cellobiase.

--Cellobiase is an enzyme that can split cellulose at beta 1-4 glycosidic linkage

--Dietary Fibre as such does not have any nutritional value but it promotes peristalsis in intestines and prevents constipation.

TYPES OF DIETARY FIBRE

Advantages:

--hypolipidemic effect

--hypoglycemic effect'

--keeps intestinal tract healthy

--prevents constipation

Disadvantages-

-Excessive Fibre may cause irritation to intestinal mucosa causing diarrhoea,abdominal discomfort,bloating & constipation.

--Excessive Fibre binds to zinc,calcium,magnesium and decreases their absorption.