Gut bacteria help digest dietary fiber, release important antioxidant
Dietary fiber found in grains is a large component of many diets, but little is understood about how we digest the fiber, as humans lack enzymes to break down the complex molecules. Some species of gut bacteria break down the fiber in such a way that it not only becomes digestible, but releases ferulic acid, an important antioxidant with multiple health benefits, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Grains such as rice, oats, rye and wheat are rich in a class of dietary fiber called arabinoxylans, which humans cannot digest on their own. Many gut bacteria have enzymes to break down simple components of arabinoxylans; however, they lack the ability to break down complex ones – including those containing ferulic acid.