Unravelling the effect of viscous fiber on food intake: A review of studies

Abstract

Ingesting a diet rich in soluble and/or viscous dietary fiber induces stimulation of satiety by stimulation of enterodigestive peptides. The goal of the present review was to show the impact of soluble and viscous fibers on the depression of energy intake. Then, to investigate the existence of several parameters involved in the stimulation of the anorexigenic effect such as; the maintenance of viscosity, gastric emptying and the secretion of enterodi-gestive peptides. With the help of clinical studies, guar gum, alginate, β-glucan, pectins and psyllium were chosen in order to better understand their mechanisms of action on stimulation of satiety and depression of food in-take. Guar gum and alginate forms viscosity under acid environment which lead to slows down the gastric emptying and transit gastrointestinal. This effect promotes the contact between nutrient and bowels leading to increase the sensation of satiety and decrease of energy intake. β-glucan increase the secretion of anorexigenic hormone PYY. While, pectin and psyllium increase the secretion of PYY and GLP-1.