compound
Soluble fibre
Soluble fibre is a broad food label for fibres that disperse or dissolve in water to varying degrees.
Some soluble fibres are viscous or fermentable, but the label does not identify one chemical structure or one physiological effect.
A broad property label
Pectins, gums and some beta-glucans are examples of fibres often described as soluble. Their chain structure, food matrix and processing determine how they behave in water and during digestion.
Related topics
Dietary fibre includes Soluble fibre
Soluble fibre is a broad subset within the dietary-fibre category.
Worth knowing
It is part of dietary fibre. Soluble fibre is a subset used within the wider dietary-fibre category; it does not replace the source’s formal fibre definition.
A closer look
Viscosity varies by fibre
Some viscous fibres slow mixing and nutrient diffusion in the gut, but viscosity varies across fibre types and food matrices.
Food matrix affects digestion
Particle size, processing and the surrounding food alter how a soluble fibre hydrates and interacts with digestion.
References
Source-checked local draft.
Human editorial review pending.