Contrary to the definition, “Dietary fiber contains lignin, which is not metabolized by mammalian animals”, we have our doubts according to our recent results.

The attainable metabolic reactions of the fragrant biopolymer lignin had been investigated as part of the GOOD-project: Improved intestine well being by wood-derived gums (Jane and Aatos Erkko Basis). Within the experimental setup of the undertaking, rats consumed hemicelluloses (primarily xylan) derived from birch wooden of their eating regimen. Within the first a part of the undertaking, it was discovered that xylan has potential as a prebiotic dietary fiber selling intestine well being.

Reference to the primary a part of the research on xylan selling intestine well being:

Kynkäänniemi, E., Lahtinen, M. H., Jian, C., Salonen, A., Hatanpää, T., Mikkonen, Okay. S., & Pajari, A. M. (2022). Intestine microbiota can make the most of prebiotic birch glucuronoxylan in manufacturing of short-chain fatty acids in rats. Meals & Operate, 13(6), 3746-3759. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1FO03922A

Within the experimental setup the xylan teams had been additional divided into two totally different teams: one group obtained purified xylan, whereas the opposite group additionally obtained lignin, which is current within the unpurified xylan. By utilizing many trendy analytical instruments in chemistry and intestine microbiome analysis, we gained a number of items of proof exhibiting that lignin is metabolized by the motion of sure intestine microbes from the Eggerthella genus within the massive gut to smaller molecules, reminiscent of sinapic and ferulic acids, and their derivatives. The collaboration in our multidisciplinary analysis workforce was integral and most of the instruments used got here from the sphere wooden chemistry. As well as, data in meals and diet, and intestine microbiome analysis had been important as a way to collect, interpret, and make conclusions of all of the findings.

Reference to the second a part of the research on lignin metabolism:

Lahtinen, M. H., Kynkäänniemi, E., Jian, C., Salonen, A., Pajari, A.-M., Mikkonen, Okay. S., Metabolic destiny of lignin in birch glucuronoxylan extracts as dietary fiber studied in a rat mannequin. Mol. Nutr. Meals Res. 2023, 2300201. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202300201