The effects of a high-fiber diet on biomarkers used to assess intestinal inflammation and permeability in healthy individuals

ObjectivesThe present study was conducted with the objective of testing the hypothesis that a dietary intervention promoting a diet in which at least 30 g of total dietary fibre intake per day is obtained from foods affects markers related to intestinal integrity and inflammation in healthy individuals.MetodsA total of 20 subjects participated in the study. Participants were instructed to incorporate 30 gof fibre from dietary sources into their daily consumption for a period of one month. Serum concentrations of human lipopolysaccharides Binding Protein, calprotectin, zonulin and lithocholic acid were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method before and after the dietary intervention. Serum cholesterol and anti-TPO (anti-thyroid peroxidase) levels were measured quantitatively using standard methods.ResultsA significant decrease in the BMI (p = 0.018) and weight (p = 0.015) values of the participants was observed following the implementation of a dietary intervention. The serum levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (p = 0.014), calprotectin (p = 0.014), zonulin (p = 0.016), cholesterol (p = 0.036), and AntiTPO (p = 0.023) were found to be statistically significantly lower in the study participants.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrates that the consumption of 30 g of dietary fibre per day for a period of one month results in a reduction of levels of markers associated with gut integrity and inflammation in healthy individuals. A diet with a high fibre content may be a promising therapeutic target for the regulation of gut inflammation and permeability.