title: Fibre in nutrition.
abstract: The physical properties and the chemical variety of the substances which make up the plant cell wall are inadequately described by any one term such as "fibre". It would seem that an understanding of the role of the unavailable carbohydrates and lignin in the diet in the functioning of the gastro-intestinal tract and on possible pathological process must be based on a better knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of these substances as they occur in foods than is at present available. It is suggested that this knowledge can come from a synthesis of the findings of the plant anatomists, plant biochemists and structural organic chemists and the application of this synthesis to studies in man.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002473:Cell Wall; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003902:Detergents; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism; D010368:Pectins / Q000378:metabolism; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D011134:Polysaccharides; D010368:Pectins; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin