Dietary Fibre: Bio-active Carbohydrates for Food and Feed

The growing attention to healthy eating, intestinal health, combating major disorders such as obesity and diabetes and prevention of cardio-vascular diseases and cancer, has resulted in an increased output of R&D on dietary fibre and related carbohydrates. Hundreds of products are launched annually with claims regarding their fibre content. Existing and new fibres are also increasingly incorporated in to products for specific target groups, such as babies, farm animals, pets and for clinical nutrition. Contemporary research tools and ideas are enabling researchers to obtain a much better insight in to the mechanisms of bio-active carbohydrates. These include analytical methods, model systems to measure the impact of fibre on processes in the gastro-intestinal tract and the identification and measurement of new biomarkers, for example markers related to satiety. These insights and tools should contribute to R&D on ingredients and products aiming to impart significant health benefits. In this book all these issues are addressed by invited expert scientists of leading research groups all over the world. In addition, consumer views on dietary fibre are discussed, as well as issues on definition of dietary fibre and developments in the field of health claims.