Dietary soluble fiber

Dietary soluble fiber refers to a group of carbohydrate compounds found in plant foods that dissolve in water and form a gel-like substance during digestion. Unlike most nutrients, soluble fiber is not digested or absorbed by the body; instead, it passes through the gastrointestinal tract mostly intact. Major sources include oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables. Soluble fiber slows gastrointestinal transit, supports beneficial gut bacteria, helps manage blood sugar by slowing glucose absorption, and lowers cholesterol by binding bile acids in the intestine. It plays a notable role in reducing the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as helping to manage constipation and diarrhea. While highly beneficial, it is a nutritional ingredient, not a molecular therapeutic target or receptor, and thus not considered a drug or therapy target in the classical sense[2][3][4][5].

Other names

Soluble fiberwater-soluble fiber