Studying the relationship between fiber and pediatric GI disorders is important because increased fiber intake is the most commonly prescribed ‘fix’ for constipated children. There are OTC medications and recommended dosages for pediatric fiber supplements, but the prevalence of pediatric GI disorders and visits to the pediatrician for constipation and other conditions warrants more research.

What kind of fiber and how much should children take when they are having trouble with GI disorders?

What is a Functional GI Disorder?

Medical researchers at UNC School of Medicine succinctly describe functional GI disorders as “common disorders that are characterized by persistent and recurring GI symptoms.” This can include many conditions, the most common of which are:

• IBS
• Functional constipation
• Functional diarrhea
• Dyspepsia
• Functional nausea and/or vomiting

Functional instances of GI disorders are common reasons for children being unable to attend school due to ‘feeling sick.’

How Fiber Helps GI Disorders

Fiber is regularly recommended to help treat functional GI disorders. Fibers are categorized as soluble or insoluble; soluble fibers are fermented in the colon whereas insoluble fibers are subject to limited fermentation. 

Soluble fiber absorbs water, forming a gel after digestion. The added water is thought to make the stool softer and easier to pass. While most foods have both soluble and insoluble fiber, the relative amounts provided differ.  Common foods that are high in soluble fiber include: 

• Oatmeal
• Barley
• Beans
• Lentils
• Peas. 

Insoluble fibers have a bulking action and can only be fermented in the colon producing gas and worsening the IBS symptoms. Insoluble fibers do not get broken down completely in the body and help food pass more quickly through the intestines. Foods high in insoluble fiber include: 

• Wheat bran
• Whole grains
• Some vegetables

The outcomes of fiber treatments for FC and IBS are fairly positive. 25% of children with FC or IBS continue to experience symptoms through adulthood. Approximately 40% of children that have medical consultations for FC continue to require treatment for at least five years.

Specific Fiber Treatments

The recent study on fiber and functional GI disorders focused on looking at a combination of several sources of fiber:

• Corn fiber
• Partially Hydrolyzed Guar gum
• Glucomannan
• Inulin (not insulin)
• Oligosaccharides
• Cocoa husk
• Psyllium fiber

Past research has speculated that a combination of different fiber types, including short and long-chain fibers may be a more effective approach for controlling constipation, due action on different parts of the colon; this is why 7 different sources of fiber were used in the recent research.

Research results noted the frequency of bowel movements was significantly increased in participants in the fiber group, as well as improvements in stool consistency. Side benefits included children with access to high-fiber snacks having more daily fiber intake than those who did not consume snacks with the added fiber.

While the results of the study were positive, researchers note that successful outcomes most likely rely on strict adherence to regular fiber consumption. Long-term studies are currently underway to observe the effects of standardized fiber consumption.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

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Nutraceutical is a very broad term and its use is not specifically regulated or legally defined by many countries, including the US. In the US, dietary supplements are legally defined, and many people use the terms nutraceutical and dietary supplement interchangeably. And,  many researchers and manufacturers focus on similar areas of application of dietary supplements or nutraceuticals. For example, vitamins and mineral pills, herbal-based dietary supplements, and probiotics are all considered nutraceuticals. Let’s take a look at the most commonly used or ‘popular’ nutraceuticals people use every day.

Letter Vitamins

The most commonly used nutraceuticals are traditional vitamin supplements.  For example,  vitamins B, C, and D, are some of the most popular vitamins in the US.

Vitamins and multivitamin supplements are taken to give the body the essential vitamins & minerals it may not be getting from regular dietary means. Multivitamins are usually designed by manufacturers to address several areas of common vitamin deficiencies.

Vitamin supplements are available in any supermarket or pharmacy. They are the supplements we see nearly every time we make a trip to the grocery store. And yes, they are also called nutraceuticals.

Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins and blends are supplements for mothers during and after pregnancy. Some prenatal supplements are even recommended for women before pregnancy, as they contain vitamins and minerals conducive to healthy pregnancies and births.

Prenatal vitamins are formulated to provide the key minerals like calcium and iron, as well as vitamins women often aren’t consuming enough of, and are needed in higher amounts during pregnancy (e.g., folate, choline). Prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements are important for healthy pregnancies for many women.

Prenatal vitamins are also not meant to replace or change a healthy diet. A healthy diet is important to provide the full range of needed vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Supplements are meant to fill in the gaps for those nutrients that are needed in higher amounts or often missing from many foods so harder to get in high enough amounts.  

Probiotics

Probiotic blends are meant to enhance gut microbiota diversity, which can lead to health benefits. Probiotic supplements are tolerated differently by people with different diets and gut microbiota. As such, changes and supplementation research into probiotics (prebiotics, postbiotics, etc.) has been focusing on specific health issues to target. Popular areas of research & development include digestive health, immune health, and bowel health.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids play an integral role in human health, and some omega-3 fatty acids are required in higher amounts by children for healthy development. Supplements of Omega-3 fatty acids have been popular nutraceuticals due to many of them coming primarily from less common US diets (primarily fatty fish like salmon).

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has been linked to positive effects on everything from the common cold to cancer, conclusive evidence is scarce. However, it is known that omega-3 fatty acids are needed for healthy immune function.

Functional/Fortified Food & Drink

Functional or fortified foods & drinks are nutraceutical products that add vitamins, minerals, or other supplements to foods or drinks to target a specific nutritional need. Common fortified foods & drinks include dairy products like milk or yogurt.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

The post Popular Nutraceuticals appeared first on Biofortis Research.

Many things have been associated with the rise in allergies, including environmental factors–such as western diets. Western diets contain foods that are so numerous and varied that it can be hard to directly pinpoint what is affecting the allergic immune responses.

Popular research topics have looked at everything from the alteration of livestock through hormones to fertilizers & pesticides used on crops. Due to the number of different chemicals, refinement processes, manufacturing processes, and other factors in food production, researchers are still putting together a solid picture of ‘why’ allergies have been on the rise.

Versatile Allergy-Fighting Agents

While several causes have been identified to increase the likelihood of developing a specific allergy, research to find a catch-all treatment has not. Different approaches are used for different allergies. Some of these have broader uses than others but are generally relegated to treating hay fever and related allergies & allergic reactions.

Two of the most common ‘general’ allergy medications include over-the-counter antihistamines & decongestants. Allergies can be treated with antihistamines or decongestants, however, these are mainly used for allergies caused by seasonal environmental changes.

Other common, but more intense, allergy medications include Mast Cell Stabilizers, Leukotriene Modifiers, & Steroids. Several weeks of using one of these types of medications calm more severe symptoms related to allergies.

What few of the current common allergy treatments can address, however, are food allergies. Food allergies that pose a medical risk, and come on quickly, are treated by using an epi-pen or other emergency medication. But, many other food allergies or intolerances lead to low-level complaints, like a rash or congestion, but do not pose an immediate serious medical risk.  These allergies are due to a different immune system reaction and the symptoms are often bothersome over days.  Treating the root of these types of allergic and intolerance reactions still eludes researchers.

Dietary Pectin Fiber has some unique properties while going through the gastrointestinal tract that has prompted several recent studies in this area.

Dietary Pectin Fiber & Allergy Intervention

An emerging area of research looking to mitigate a person’s risk of these non-immediate food-based allergic reactions involves prebiotics to diversify the growth and activity of gut microbiota. Dietary pectin fiber is found primarily in plant cell walls and tissues. 

A study of pectin and chemistry noted “Pectin is recognized as a prebiotic that is not degraded by either human saliva or gastric acid and is resistant to pepsin, trypsin, and rennet. Several studies demonstrated that pectins from different sources, such as apple or citrus, can serve as valuable carbon sources for gut bacteria.”

The resiliency of pectin while traversing the gastrointestinal tract may allow it to have beneficial effects throughout its digestive journey. Recent research on dietary pectin fiber has also shown that it may be able to block certain pro-inflammatory pathways, which could help slow allergic reactions.

The negative results of studies on dietary pectin fiber and allergies have shown that some allergens may not be digested due to the presence of the fiber. This would lead to allergic reactions happening as the undigested allergens reach the gut.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

The post Treating Allergies with Dietary Fiber Pectin appeared first on Biofortis Research.

Studies on the connection between diet and reducing the symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases have shown a strong relationship between the two. The optimal composition for the gut microbiome has yet to be determined, but information on specific diets affecting chronic inflammatory diseases is beginning to take shape.

High-Fiber Dietary Impacts on Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

A recent study published by the Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center focused on low-fiber diets, high-fiber diets, and vegetarian & vegan diets. Participants in the study all suffered from chronic inflammatory diseases including cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, type-2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Measurements of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) were recorded for data.

For the low-fiber diet trials, participants changed their diets to match the specified low-fiber content. Research participants with low fiber diets did not show a significant clinical difference on affecting chronic inflammatory diseases when compared to control groups.

High-fiber dietary trials followed two different diets; diets with specified higher fiber content and Mediterranean diets. Study participants on the Mediterranean diet show a non-significant reduction of CRP. The Mediterranean participant results noted a trend towards improved gut microbiome composition. It was also noted that participants with IBD on the Mediterranean diet showed no clinical improvement.

High-fiber participants who were not on a Mediterranean diet showed a significant reduction in CRP. The high-fiber diet participants were noted to have improved microbiome compositions after the study was completed.

Vegan and vegetarian diets resulted in significant improvements for disease-related issues. Noted improvements related to chronic inflammatory diseases included less pain and subjective improvement of swollen or tender joints. Vegan and vegetarian diets also resulted in lower overall cholesterol levels (both LDL & HDL).

High-Fiber Clinical Benefits on Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

The largest takeaway from this study is that high-fiber dietary interventions seem more effective when it comes to improving conditions and symptoms associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. High-fiber plant-based diets (vegan & vegetarian) showed the most significant results in helping with chronic inflammatory conditions.

Fiber supplements were included in this review, with findings that <10 g/d did not lead to significant effects, while supplements of >10 g/d fiber and those with probiotics (e.g., synbiotics) showed more promise, although more data are needed.  

The study highlighted the potential importance of higher fiber intake for improving symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases. Microbial diversity was also noted as an effect of high-fiber diets, resulting in a more diverse gut microbiome.

One finding by the authors was the need for more data on the effect of different types of fiber and fiber supplements and mediation of chronic inflammation by the microbiome for other conditions, such as CVD.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

The post Dietary Interventions & Chronic Inflammatory Diseases appeared first on Biofortis Research.