dietary-fiber
Dietary fiber refers to the indigestible carbohydrate components of plant cell walls and storage tissues—including cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and resistant starches—that pass through the human gut largely intact. Understanding the biosynthesis, structure, and composition of these compounds is central to plant science, as they reflect fundamental aspects of cell wall biology, plant development, and carbohydrate metabolism. Breeding and engineering crops with optimized fiber profiles requires deep knowledge of the genetic and biochemical pathways that govern polysaccharide production across diverse plant species.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-01
A clinical trial found that switching to a high-fiber, plant-based diet improved metabolic health, gut microbiome diversity, and immune function in people at risk of developing multiple myeloma — and mouse studies confirmed that fiber alone (not just weight loss) can slow the disease's progression.
23 participants on a high-fiber, plant-based diet for 12–24 weeks showed improvements in BMI, insulin resistance, gut microbiome diversity, and inflammatory markers.
Disease progression stabilized or improved in all participants, with 2 showing a measurable improvement in their precursor disease trajectory.
In mouse models, a high-fiber diet delayed progression to myeloma independent of calorie restriction or weight loss, acting through increased short-chain fatty acid production that boosted antitumor immunity.