optimizing nutrient absorption

[Doug H.]

Greetings readers and potential contributors, I was wondering
how dietary fiber effects nutrient absorption. I have read
some articles on various websites recently that have mentioned
high fiber diets as limiting the availability of nutrients to
be absorbed by the intestines. Can anyone tell me if this is
true? Likewise, can anyone tell me if soluble fiber can hinder
the absorption of fat soluble vitamins? thanks, Doug

[Wuzzy]

"Doug H." <nospam.com> wrote in message
news:<afnavc02sl2@enews3.newsguy.com>...
> Greetings readers and potential contributors, I was
> wondering how dietary fiber effects nutrient absorption. I
> have read some articles on various websites recently that
> have mentioned high fiber diets as limiting the availability
> of nutrients to be absorbed by the intestines. Can anyone
> tell me if this is true? Likewise, can anyone tell me if
> soluble fiber can hinder the absorption of fat soluble
> vitamins? thanks, Doug

Chq your library for an academic book titled "fiber in human
nutrition", or something like that they devote almost 1/4th of
the book to its effect on nutrient absorption.

Fiber all types greatly affects macro and micronutrient
digestability, since it increases digestive system transit
time and can bind these. Also it affects enterohepatic
circulation of various hormones and bile
- (therefore decreasing cholesterol levels which are needed to
make these) the University of Toronto conducted a study on
residents and found that fiber delays onset of menarche by
reducing enterohepatic circulation of estrogen. (therefore
increase clearance) This was published in a recent Public
Health Nutrition..

Broad topic..

[Pbeyer]

"Doug H." wrote:

> Greetings readers and potential contributors, I was
> wondering how dietary fiber effects nutrient absorption. I
> have read some articles on various websites recently that
> have mentioned high fiber diets as limiting the availability
> of nutrients to be absorbed by the intestines. Can anyone
> tell me if this is true? Likewise, can anyone tell me if
> soluble fiber can hinder the absorption of fat soluble
> vitamins? thanks, Doug

Doug-- fiber sources can indeed decrease nutrient absorption
but only to a limited degree. In most cases the decrease is
not terribly important from a practical dietary standpoint. In
fact, If the increase fiber is from foods like fruits, vegs,
nuts, legumes and whole grain sources, one is usually
considerably better off because the food adds so many
nutrients and protective phytochemicals. Just for
illustration, so maybe you get a 2% reduction in magnesium
absorption and a 5% reduction in Calcium absorption if you add
a purified form of fiber. By adding fiberous foods, you would
increase the intake of calcium and magnesium (and a host of
other nutrients) by taking in the extra fiber. That is just
one of the reasons why its recommend by all the various health
agencies that fiber comes from food rather than powdered fiber
supplements. Pete