Define the Integrity of gut or colon?
Dietary fibre especially fermentable fibres play an important role in maintaining the integrity of gut. SCFAs generated during fermentation stimulate the proliferation of mucosal cells in the gut and thus maintains its integrity. Butyrate serves as a preferred energy source for colonic cells and regulates colonic cell proliferation. Also, SCFAs acidify the colon thus reducing the solubility of bile acids. Further, the activity of 7 α-dehydroxylase diminishes which decreases the conversion of primary bile acids to secondary bile acids. These changes may protect against colon cancer.