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The Role of Dietary Fibre, Nutrition in Gastrointestinal Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 568

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Medicine, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Interests: gastrointestinal disease; gut microbiome; inflammatory bowel disease; nutrients; nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

An adequate diet plays a key role not only in maintaining digestive health, but also in preventing intestinal diseases and supporting their treatment. Dietary fibre has a beneficial effect on the intestinal microbiome by providing food for fermenting bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate. These metabolites promote mucosal integrity and modulate immune system function through various molecular pathways. In inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, intestinal dysbiosis, and impaired intestinal homeostasis are often observed. In this case, the role of fibre becomes even more important, especially since its fermentation products can affect gene expression and inflammatory signalling at the cellular level.

A balanced diet that provides adequate nutrients, particularly a variety of fibre fractions, can alleviate symptoms and promote the restoration of intestinal barrier integrity. Interactions involve complex mechanisms such as modulation of oxidative stress, cytokine regulation, and even epigenetic changes. Understanding the interactions between dietary fibre, the gut microbiome, and gastrointestinal disease is crucial to developing effective nutritional strategies to support the therapeutic process, especially in the context of molecular medicine.

Dr. Sara Jarmakiewicz-Czaja
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • dietary fibre
  • gut microbiome
  • gastrointestinal disease
  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • nutrients
  • nutrition

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 1992 KB  
Article
Effects of Daily Saskatoon Berry Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Health, Gut Microbiota, and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Healthy Adults
by Eunseo Lee, Amy Hui, Harvey Lee, Jiaan Sun and Garry X. Shen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3644; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083644 - 19 Apr 2026
Viewed by 109
Abstract
Saskatoon berry (SB), a traditional food of Indigenous people, has been associated with cardiometabolic benefits in animal models; however, its effects on humans remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of dried SB consumption on cardiometabolic outcomes, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids [...] Read more.
Saskatoon berry (SB), a traditional food of Indigenous people, has been associated with cardiometabolic benefits in animal models; however, its effects on humans remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of dried SB consumption on cardiometabolic outcomes, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiles in healthy adults. In a 10-week, single-arm, and open-label trial, 20 healthy adults consumed 40 g/day of freeze-dried whole SB. Biochemical measures, physical exams, dietary records, participant feedback, and fecal samples were collected before and after the intervention. Gut microbiota composition and fecal SCFAs were profiled using 16S-rRNA sequencing and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively. SB intake significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-c), systolic blood pressure, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, while increasing dietary fiber intake. Fiber intake was negatively correlated with TC, LDL-c and non-HDL-c (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of fecal Prevotellaceae increased after SB consumption and was positively correlated with multiple fecal SCFAs (p < 0.05–0.0001), while being negatively associated with lipid profiles and blood pressure. No adverse cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal dysfunction were observed; however, the significant increase in sugar intake may pose a risk for elevated blood glucose. Therefore, limiting other high-sugar foods during SB supplementation may be advisable for individuals with glucose intolerance. Overall, SB intake improved glucose and lipid metabolism and lowered blood pressure and inflammatory markers in healthy adults. These cardiometabolic benefits may be mediated by fiber and anthocyanins in SB and through modulation of gut microbiota and SCFA production; however, further confirmation is needed in subsequent randomized controlled trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Dietary Fibre, Nutrition in Gastrointestinal Diseases)
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