In nutrition and digestive physiology, dietary fiber refers to the edible carbohydrate polymers and lignin that are not hydrolyzed by human digestive enzymes in the small intestine and so reach the colon largely intact. Fiber is broadly classified as soluble or insoluble, and as fermentable or non-fermentable, disti…
In nutrition and digestive physiology, dietary fiber refers to the edible carbohydrate polymers and lignin that are not hydrolyzed by human digestive enzymes in the small intestine and so reach the colon largely intact. Fiber is broadly classified as soluble or insoluble, and as fermentable or non-fermentable, distinctions that govern its physiological effects. Soluble, viscous fibers such as pectins and beta-glucans slow gastric emptying and attenuate postprandial glucose and cholesterol absorption, while insoluble fibers such as cellulose increase fecal bulk and accelerate transit. In the colon, fermentable fibers are metabolized by the resident microbiota into short-chain fatty acids that nourish the colonic epithelium, modulate luminal pH, and influence mucosal immunity and motility. Adequate fiber intake is associated with normal bowel function and is studied in relation to constipation, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel conditions, and colorectal cancer risk. Fiber also contributes to satiety and to the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, making it central to the dietary management of metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research on digestive disorders and their diagnosis, a field in which the role of dietary fiber in gut health and disease is a recurring concern.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 92 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Fibers, linking to each citing work.