title: Manipulating digestion with foods designed to change the physical characteristics of digesta.
abstract: We explore how foods can be designed to modulate digestion and to promote health by changing the physical properties of digesta. The physical characteristics of digesta are discussed along with their impact on the physiology of digestion with special reference to sites where these characteristics are likely to influence digestive efficiency. Evidence is reviewed regarding the effects of supplementation with viscoactive agents on the flow and mixing of digesta in particular segments of the human gut that, by changing the rheology and liquid permeability of digesta in that segment, influence specific aspects of digestion and absorption.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. r.g.lentle@massey.ac.nz
authors.forename: Roger G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lentle
authors.forename: Patrick W M
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology*; D005502:Food; D005524:Food Technology; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010316:Particle Size; D010539:Permeability; D012212:Rheology; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D055682:Viscoelastic Substances