References

fiber (3). Fiber is a heterogeneous poly-meric material, essentially composed of hg-nins and polysaccharides. As the fiber passes along the gastrointestinal tract the physical properties which are important in the physiology of plant cell wall are trans-ferred to the physiology of the gastrointes-tinal tract with novel consequences. Vegeta-ble dietary fiber might then be defined as having particle size, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, ability to adsorb bile acids, and other acidic compounds, and ability to form gels and provides a surface catalysing reaction (4). It is also clear that intestinal contents may stream along the gut, so there is a distinct possibility that, say, water soluble fiber may progress along the gastrointestinal tract at a different rate to water insoluble fiber (5). Some but not necessarily all fiber may be fermented in the cecum with possible ab-sorption of hydrolysis products, and altered and unaltered residues undergo excretion in the stool. Such degradation may well change the chemical and redox environment of the cecum resulting in changes in bacterial activ-ity. Such fermentation will be dictated by and also alter the physical properties of fi-ber. The consequence of such an approach is the possibility of defining fiber and dietary intake by being able to specify the conse-quences for example on fecal weight, cat-ions, fecal bile acid excretion, serum lipids, and sugars etc