Dietery fibers include the nondigestible carbohydrates. These may be either water soluble or water insoluble. Both have nutritional significance. The water insoluble group that includes wheat products and wheat bran is believed to reduce chances of colon cancer by increasing bulk and diluting the effect of secondary bile acids.
The soluble fibers such as those found in the brans of some cereals (e.g. oats and rice) and in pectin are believed to lower the levels of serum cholesterol by binding bile acids and causing removal of cholesterol in the feces.
While the claims may be made for cholesterol level lowering properties of brans from different grains (e.g., the bran from oats and the bran from psyllium seed, which have much higher amounts of bran than that of other grains), the more productive course for trying to control cholesterol level is limit the consumption of foods that are high in cholesterol and high in fats.
Food Science
