Answer to Question #191048 in Organic Chemistry for Natasha

Question

Why are soluble fibers identified as prebiotics?

How does soluble fiber influence human blood cholesterol and sugar levels?

Answer 1

Although some fiber cannot be digested by humans, it can be broken down by the microbes in our gut – a community of bacteria called the gut microbiota. Like fiber, prebiotics also act as food for beneficial microbes in the gut, and many current prebiotics are actually considered to be a form of soluble dietary fiber.

Soluble fiber found in beans, oats, flaxseed and oat bran may help lower total blood cholesterol levels by lowering low-density lipoprotein, or "bad," cholesterol levels. Studies also have shown that high-fiber foods may have other heart-health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure and inflammation.