American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 61, 938S-945S, Copyright © 1995 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

REVIEW ARTICLES

Gastrointestinal effects of food carbohydrate

JH Cummings and HN Englyst
MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Cambridge, UK.

Dietary carbohydrate may be divided into monosaccharides and disaccharides (sugars), oligosaccharides [degree of polymerization (DP) 3-9], and polysaccharides (DP > 10). Their physiological properties and health benefits depend on the site, rate, and extent of their digestion or fermentation in the gut. Oligosaccharides are a diverse group of soluble carbohydrates, many of which are not digested by pancreatic enzymes. They are fermented in the colon and some have specific effects on bacteria. The major dietary polysaccharides are starch and nonstarch polysaccharides (NSPs). The digestion of starch depends on its physical form, the nature of the starch granule, and the effects of food processing. Starch may be rapidly digested, slowly digested, or resistant, the last passes into the colon for fermentation. The NSPs (cell wall polysaccharides) all resist digestion. They exert a physical effect in the upper gut, serving to moderate carbohydrate and possibly lipid absorption, whereas in the colon they affect bowel habit through fermentation, they affect epithelial cell metabolism, and, along with other fermented carbohydrates, they provide energy to humans.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Ruas-Madiedo, A. Hernandez-Barranco, A. Margolles, and C. G. de los Reyes-Gavilan A Bile Salt-Resistant Derivative of Bifidobacterium animalis Has an Altered Fermentation Pattern When Grown on Glucose and Maltose Appl. Envir. Microbiol., November 1, 2005; 71(11): 6564 - 6570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. B. Knudsen, A. Serena, A. K. B. Kjaer, H. Jorgensen, and R. Engberg Rye Bread Enhances the Production and Plasma Concentration of Butyrate but Not the Plasma Concentrations of Glucose and Insulin in Pigs J. Nutr., July 1, 2005; 135(7): 1696 - 1704. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Gajda, E. A. Flickinger, C. M. Grieshop, L. L. Bauer, N. R. Merchen, and G. C. Fahey Jr. Corn hybrid affects in vitro and in vivo measures of nutrient digestibility in dogs J Anim Sci, January 1, 2005; 83(1): 160 - 171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Wolin, T. L. Miller, M. D. Collins, and P. A. Lawson Formate-Dependent Growth and Homoacetogenic Fermentation by a Bacterium from Human Feces: Description of Bryantella formatexigens gen. nov., sp. nov. Appl. Envir. Microbiol., October 1, 2003; 69(10): 6321 - 6326. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Stumpf, P. Pietinen, P. Puska, and H. Adlercreutz Changes in Serum Enterolactone, Genistein, and Daidzein in a Dietary Intervention Study in Finland Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., December 1, 2000; 9(12): 1369 - 1372. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. O. Schneeman Fiber, Inulin and Oligofructose: Similarities and Differences J. Nutr., July 1, 1999; 129(7): 1424 - 1424. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. J. A. Jenkins, C. W. C. Kendall, and V. Vuksan Inulin, Oligofructose and Intestinal Function J. Nutr., July 1, 1999; 129(7): 1431 - 1431. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. Bravo Effect of processing on the non-starch polysaccharides and in vitro starch digestibility of legumes / Efecto del procesado en el contenido de polisacaridos no amilaceos y la digestibilidad in vitro del almidon de legumbres Food Science and Technology International, January 1, 1999; 5(5): 415 - 423. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J S McCullough, B Ratcliffe, N Mandir, K E Carr, and R A Goodlad Dietary fibre and intestinal microflora: effects on intestinal morphometry and crypt branching Gut, June 1, 1998; 42(6): 799 - 806. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Roberfroid, J. A. E. Van Loo, and G. R. Gibson The Bifidogenic Nature of Chicory Inulin and Its Hydrolysis Products J. Nutr., January 1, 1998; 128(1): 11 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text]