Dietary cellulose and other β-1,4-linked polysaccharides

Dietary cellulose and other β-1,4-linked polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates that constitute the primary structural framework of plant cell walls (PubChem, 2024). Because humans lack the endogenous enzyme cellulase, these polysaccharides are not digested in the small intestine and are classified as insoluble dietary fiber (NIH, 2023). Their primary biological role involves increasing fecal bulk and promoting gastrointestinal motility through water retention, which aids in the prevention and treatment of constipation (StatPearls, 2023). In the colon, these fibers serve as substrates for microbial fermentation, resulting in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that provide energy to colonocytes and exert systemic anti-inflammatory effects (PubMed, 2022). Clinically, they are utilized to improve glycemic control and lipid profiles by slowing the absorption of macronutrients and binding bile acids (Mayo Clinic, 2023). While not a traditional molecular target like a protein receptor, they are the focus of nutritional interventions and are formulated into bulk-forming laxatives.

Other names

CelluloseInsoluble dietary fiberPlant cell wall polysaccharidesBeta-1,4-glucanDietary fiber

Enzymatic hydrolysis by cellulase; physical water absorption and fecal bulking by cellulose derivatives; modulation of gut microbiota and slowing of macronutrient absorption.