Researchers have created a bread enriched with fiber: it helps limit weight gain and prevent metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
- Bread enriched with fiber would help limit weight gain.
- For overweight people, this could prevent the accumulation of extra pounds.
- It also has effects on the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
Nearly two billion people were obese or overweight in 2016, according to figures from theWorld Health Organization. “Overweight and obesity, and their associated noncommunicable diseases, are largely preventable.”, warns the organization. Around the world, scientists are working on ways to prevent obesity. In France, a team from Clermont-Auvergne University has developed a new food capable of limiting weight gain: bread enriched with fiber.
Dietary fiber: their consumption helps fight obesity
“Among the nutritional benchmarks and objectives of the National Health Nutrition Program (PNNS) in France, it is recommended to increase the proportion of fiber in our diet to prevent the occurrence of obesity and associated pathologies, but also to fight against established obesity”explains Isabelle Savary-Auzeloux, in an article published on Tea Conversation. However, fiber consumption in the population is lower than the PNNS recommendations, i.e. 30 g per day. These fibers are present in different foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and seeds.
The scientist and her team were particularly interested in “fibers fermentable”, those which are degraded by the intestinal microbiota. Various studies have shown that this family of nutrients has positive effects on insulin sensitivity and reducing the risk of diabetes. To facilitate their consumption, the scientist and her team have developed a bread which contains a significant quantity. “A blend of fermentable fibers has been developed based on 20% inulin, 20% pectin and 60% resistant starchshe specifies. Thus, the consumption of 250 g (i.e. approximately a baguette) of this bread provides 25 g of fiber and makes it possible to reach, or even exceed, the PNNS recommendations as part of a healthy diet..”
Bread enriched with fiber: beneficial effects demonstrated in a study on pigs
A test was carried out on mini pigs, which share several characteristics with humans from a digestive and intestinal point of view. “These mini pigs are thus fed so that they develop obesity: ingestion of 800 g of a diet enriched in fat and sugar (energy intake well above their needs)explains the main author of this study. The mini pigs also receive: either 250 g of bread made from refined flour low in fiber, the one found in white baguettes (T = Control) or 250 g of bread enriched with fermentable fiber ( F = Fibers).” In group F, weight gain was 15% lower, compared to the control group. The amount of fat stored in the liver was also reduced. “The fermentable fibers present in the bread of F animals also made it possible to stimulate, in the muscle, the expression of numerous genes involved in the complete breakdown of fatty acids (fats) as well as in mitochondrial activity (the energy center of our cells).”
Fiber-enriched bread recommended for overweight people?
For the authors of this study, ingesting this bread in reasonable quantities could facilitate fiber consumption, limit weight gain and improve lipid metabolism. “This bread could be recommended for overweight people so that they can, without dieting, avoid gaining weightconcludes Isabelle Savary-Auzeloux. Making this type of bread available could also limit the occurrence of metabolic disturbances associated with obesity such as the development of insulin resistance and then diabetes in the long term..”
