To Your Health September, 2008 (Vol. 02, Issue 09)

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Fiber Facts

Prebiotics and the Digestive Health Connection

By Lorraine Niba, PhD

Just a few years ago, surveys typically showed consumers were not particularly thrilled about words such as digestive health, regularity or laxation on food product labels. No one wanted to think about digestive discomfort or colon cleansing while shopping for food. Sure, they wanted the products, but would rather not think about it or be told about it on their food labels.

Well, it's clearly a new day! An astounding 76 percent of surveyed consumers believe foods contain components that can improve digestive health, according to the 2007 Health Focus Trend Report. Digestive health and regularity finally seem to be out in the open. The commercials abound - even "Saturday Night Live" recently took a turn with a hilarious spoof of "regularity yogurt." As the audience howled with laughter, Dannon's Activia yogurt was racking up millions in sales. Information Resources Inc.'s 2007 New Product Pacesetters Report indicates the product clocked in among the top five best new food products in terms of sales for 2006-2007.

Our traditional understanding of fiber and its nutritional benefits has been mainly in the area of regularity. Fiber keeps us regular; we know that. Despite this knowledge, however, there has been a huge discrepancy in actual fiber intake in the United States. While the recommended daily intake of fiber is 25-38 grams per day, the vast majority of Americans consume far less. A 2001 U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrient intake survey showed the average fiber intake for women was only 12-14 grams per day. Men's fiber consumption was slightly higher, at 16-18 grams per day.

Fortunately, that trend is changing. Breakthrough research from as early as 1986 in the journal Gastroenterology highlighted the beneficial effects of colonic bacterial fermentation of complex carbohydrates such as fiber. Since then, multiple additional studies by leading researchers in renowned journals such as the British Journal of Nutrition and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have provided even more insights into this critical process.

This has translated into newly available products for consumers. We have products with probiotics (made up of mainly the bacteria), and overall there are more fiber products than ever. Savvy consumers are perking up and taking notice. In this revitalized world of fiber and digestive health, how do we ensure we are getting the best of these benefits?

Prebiotics and Probiotics 101

These two very similar-sounding terms - prebiotics and probiotics - are complementary to each other. They work together to provide the maximum health benefits. Probiotics, however, are much more widely known. Products labeled as probiotics are now available in the refrigerated case of virtually every mainstream grocery store.

Probiotics are simply bacteria that have been shown to have beneficial health effects in humans. When we are born, the colon has a healthy population of bacteria, known as intestinal flora. These include bacteria like lactobacilli. As we grow and modify our diets, this population of bacteria is modified to the point most adults are seriously lacking.