Clinical Research Directory

The Role of the Microbiome in the Response to Dietary Fibers Intake During Intermediate Fasting

Dietary fibers are generally not degraded by the endogenous digestive enzymes, but rather by the complex ensemble of microorganisms that reside in the human gut \[1\]. This ensemble, collectively known as the human gut microbiome, plays a key role in breaking down, fermenting, and ultimately converting such dietary fibers into a variety of beneficial metabolites, including most notably, short chain fatty acids (SCFA). These end products of fibers' fermentation affect host metabolism, immunity, and physiology, and have been implicated in multiple diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Intermediate fasting, and in particular circadian intermediate fasting (i.e. 16 hours of fasting followed by 8 hours of allowed eating), has been shown to have positive associations with multiple health conditions as obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and neurologic disorders In this study, we will try to answer open questions utilizing the long fasting period during the day to investigate the isolated effect of dietary fiber consumption, uncovering the degradation effect, but not the bulking effect, on the microbiome and the host physiology, and in particular its glucose response.

Soluble and Osmotic Fibre (SOLOS) Diet for Constipation

This research aims to study the dual effectiveness of incorporating soluble fibre and osmotic carbohydrates (SOLOS), with or without restricting fructans and GOS, and present novel findings in managing GI symptoms in patients with functional bowel disorders with constipation. These findings may also support researchers and clinicians in shaping new dietary approaches in the management of general constipation symptoms.