Low fiber intake may trigger inflammatory bowel disease, says study
A study published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe found that fiber plays a significant role in the interplay between gut microbes and the mucus lining of the digestive system.
Fiber promotes the development of healthy mucus thickness and inhibits inflammation. For people who are born without interleukin-10, an IBD-associated cytokine, IBD typically develops in early infancy or childhood. Irritable bowel disorder (IBD), which can manifest as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, develops out of inflammation in the gut or digestive tract, leading to a range of sometimes painful issues with digestion. Scientists have not been able to identify the root cause of this disorder yet, but a recent study suggests a connection between genetics, diet, and gut microbiota that could lead to the development of IBD.
The study used mice who also lacked interleukin-10. A fibre-free diet was shown to encourage the growth of mucin-degrading bacteria, which consume the mucus layer in the digestive system, reducing the barrier that the mucus provides for the lining of the gut. The mice who ate a high-fiber diet had significantly less inflammation. However, when researchers fed mice the EEN diet formula, some of them had less inflammation than those with a fibre-free diet.
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