Diet Rich In Soluble Fiber Reduces Risk Of Damaging Inflammation, Obesity

New U.S. research in mice suggests that intestinal inflammation caused by a microbiome that lacks soluble fiber may be a key factor in obesity and in obesity-related diseases like diabetes. The researchers found that adding more soluble fiber to the diet restores the gut microbiome and intestinal health. For the study, researchers tested the effects of various diets (i.e., soluble and insoluble fiber, protein and fat) on the intestinal tracts of mice. Among other things, the researchers found that improvements in gut structure from a soluble fiber-rich diet were due to changes in the gut microbiota that produced anti-inflammatory molecules (short chain fatty acids) used as fuel by intestinal cells.