Reference Number: 384
Year: 2017
Link: Link to original paper
Nutrition: Beta-glucans | Fibre | Hemicellulose
Summary
Dietary fiber has been extensively studied in last few decades for their physiological health benefits. Depending on its solubility, dietary fibers are classified in two groups—soluble and insoluble dietary fibers. Soluble dietary fibers include beta-glucan, galactomannan, pectin, psyllium, inulin, and resistant starch, whereas insoluble fibers include cellulose, hemicellulose, chitosan, lignin, etc. Dietary fibers are characterized with some physicochemical properties, such as solubility, fermentability, viscosity, water absorption, binding ability and so on. These properties are responsible for the functional behavior of dietary fibers. In this chapter, classification, physicochemical properties, and interactions of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers are discussed with respect to their specific health benefit.