Could dietary fibre be the next wonder drug?

Dietary fibre - already known to reduce the risk of colon cancer - may also have the potential to replace antibiotics, lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels, according to emerging new Australian research.

Scientists at CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition in Adelaide are investigating new types of dietary fibre - including resistant starch and shorter chain oligosaccharides - that could help to fight disease and avoid chronic health conditions.

Addressing the Australian Gastroenterology Week conference in Adelaide, Dr Graeme McIntosh said researchers had already identified some new dietary fibres, including a specific oligosaccharide that behaves like an antibiotic.

Dr McIntosh said while an antibiotic killed the bacteria, mannan oligosaccharides performed a similar function by absorbing certain pathogens (gastrointestinal bugs) and oligosaccharides had been used successfully to treat disorders such as diarrhoea.

Dr McIntosh said there had been considerable debate about the benefits of fibre driven by controversial research findings. For example, one study involving nearly 90,000 women found no evidence that dietary fibre reduced the risk of colorectal cancer or polyp recurrence.

"However in this case, the study participants may not have been eating the fibre which could confer protection. It appears that cereal fibres may be the optimal in lowering risk of colon cancer. Consumption of wholegrain cereals has been shown to be particularly promising in risk reduction," he said.

Item provided courtesy of CSIRO