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

The 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. A 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. A 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. The 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. • A diet high in fibre has been demonstrated to reduce levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, calprotectin, and zonulin. • The ingestion of high-fibre foods may be recommended as a means of regulating intestinal inflammation and permeability. • A diet abundant in fibre is an effective strategy for the management of body weight and the reduction of cholesterol levels.