Do isolated fibers provide the same benefits as intact (natural) fiber?
The short answer is: No, for the simple fact they do not come with the nutritious fruit, vegetable or whole grain attached. However–there is usually a however–isolated fibers do have some health properties. For example, like intact fiber, they are not digested in the small intestine, and are subsequently fermented in the large intestine or colon. This is a good thing. Our large intestine is host to many strains of bacteria, some of which are health promoting. Fiber (intact or isolated) will stimulate the growth and maintenance of healthy bacteria by providing a source of fuel for the bacteria. Other benefits of added isolated fibers are that they can be used and have been used to replace things like fat, sugar and flour in our food supply, thus yielding products that are lower in calories, fat and glycemic index. That can certainly be helpful. There will be more research on isolated fibers in our food supply, especially since use in heavily processed foods is growing. The primary rea
