A Review on Anticancer Function of Dietary Fiber and the Molecular Mechanism

Abstract:

Dietary fiber，known as "the seventh nutrient" of the body，is a particular nutrient to maintain health，which cannot be replaced by other substances. Recent studies have found that dietary fiber contributes to anti-obesity，anti-inflammation，anti-diabetes and anti-cardiovascular diseases. This paper summarizes anticancer evidences of the dietary fiber in epidemiological and animal experiments，and analyzes the relationship between anticancer effects and the amounts of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber can inhibit carcinogenesis through detoxification，anti-inflammation and the regulations of intestinal microflora and lipid and steroids metabolism. From molecular and cellular levels，we summarize that dietary fiber can arrest the cell cycle，promote apoptosis of cancer cells and regulate the signal transduction pathways of carcinogenesis. This paper provides references for further investigation into anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of dietary fiber and development of dietary fiber-based functional foods.