A water-soluble dietary fiber prepared from 20th century pear pomaces was chemically and biologically characterized. This pear water-soluble dietary fiber mainly contained carbohydrate (approximately 78.1g/100g dry weight), most of which was derived from a water-soluble dietary fiber comprising of uronic acid. The pear water-soluble dietary fiber showed high viscosity (1.88 mPa・s) at 0.5% (w/v) concentration. The blood glucose levels in 1.0% (w/v) water-soluble dietary fiber-treated rats decreased significantly at 30 and 60 min after the administration of maltose solution compared with that observed with controls. These results suggest that the water-soluble dietary fiber of 20th century pear pomaces delays the increase in postprandial blood glucose levels.
