Abstract
Non-digestible saccharides have an important function in the gastrointestinal lumen, and some peptides are also important food ingredients that exert beneficial actions. These food components have physiological roles as signaling molecules for prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Non-digestible saccharides promote calcium and iron absorption via tight junctions in the small intestine and affect colonic fermentation. Non-digestible saccharides also enhance the bioavailability of flavonoid glycosides and promote the barrier function of the intestinal epithelium via colonic fermentation. Resistant peptides directly stimulate enteroendocrine cells in the epithelium, and increase the secretion of the appetite-suppressive gut hormone, cholecystokinin. We characterized an effective internal peptide in a soybean protein, β-conglycinin, and also clarified the molecular mechanism responsible for recognition of the food peptide by enteroendocrine cells.
