Fibre – Evolution’s Keystone

Foundational Concepts in Human Evolution and Digestive Adaptation

Alberts, B., Johnson, A. & Lewis, J. et al. (2014). Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Science.
Examines cellular processes involved in nutrient absorption and fibre’s role in energy regulation.

Mayr, E. (1997). This Is Biology: The Science of the Living World. Harvard University Press.
Discusses the evolutionary pressures that shaped biological systems, including digestive adaptations.

Smith, B. D. (1998). The Emergence of Agriculture. Scientific American Library.
Explores how fibre-rich diets formed the foundation of human survival during the transition to agriculture.

Ungar, P. S. (2007). Evolution of the Human Diet: The Known, the Unknown, and the Unknowable. Oxford University Press.
Illustrates fibre’s role in early human diets and its influence on digestive system evolution.

The Role of Fibre in Digestive System Evolution

Guyton, A. C. & Hall, J. E. (2016). Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier.
Comprehensive overview of fibre’s impact on peristalsis and nutrient absorption in the digestive system.

Furness, J. B. (2006). The Enteric Nervous System. Blackwell Publishing.
Highlights the interplay between fibre, gut motility, and the enteric nervous system.

Watanabe, H. & Tokunaga, T. (1995). “Evolution of the digestive system in primates.” Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 111(4),641-647.
Links the evolution of primate digestion to fibre-rich diets.

Fibre and Microbial Fermentation

Turnbaugh, P. J., Ley, R. E., & Hamady, M. et al. (2007). “The human microbiome project: Exploring the microbial part of ourselves.” Nature , 449(7164), 804–810.
Examines the symbiotic relationship between dietary fibre and gut microbiota.

Flint, H. J., Scott, K. P., & Duncan, S. H. et al. (2012). “Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut.” Gut Microbes , 3(4), 289–306.
Discusses fibre fermentation by gut bacteria and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

Louis, P. & Flint, H. J. (2009). “Diversity, metabolism, and microbial ecology of butyrate-producing bacteria from the human large intestine.” FEMS Microbiology Letters , 294(1), 1–8.
Focuses on the health benefits of butyrate-producing bacteria supported by fibre intake.

Fibre’s Impact on Energy Regulation and Metabolism

Ludwig, D. S. (2002). “The glycemic index: Physiological mechanisms relating to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.” JAMA , 287(18), 2414–2423.
Explores fibre’s role in regulating energy and stabilising blood sugar levels.

Jenkins, D. J., Wolever, T. M., & Taylor, R. H. et al. (1981). “Glycemic index of foods: A physiological basis for carbohydrate exchange.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 34(3), 362–366.
Introduces the glycemic index and the impact of fibre on metabolic health.

Slavin, J. L. (2005). “Dietary fibre and body weight.” Nutrition, 21(3), 411–418.
Highlights fibre’s role in appetite regulation and weight management.

Fibre and Immune System Modulation

Rooks, M. G. & Garrett, W. S. (2016). “Gut microbiota, metabolites, and host immunity.” Nature Reviews Immunology, 16(6), 341–352.
Describes SCFAs’ effects on immune regulation and inflammation reduction.

Pavlov, V. A. & Tracey, K. J. (2004). “The vagus nerve and the inflammatory reflex.” Nature Reviews Immunology, 5(4), 318–328.
Explores the gut–brain axis and fibre’s role in systemic inflammation control.

Maslowski, K. M. & Mackay, C. R. (2011). “Diet, gut microbiota, and immune responses.” Nature Immunology, 12(1), 5–9.
Links dietary fibre to enhanced gut microbiota health and immune function.

Evolutionary Context of Fibre in Human Diets

Wrangham, R. W. (2009). Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human. Basic Books.
Discusses the reliance on fibrous plant foods in early human evolution.

Aiello, L. C. & Wheeler, P. (1995). “The expensive-tissue hypothesis.” Current Anthropology, 36(2), 199–221.
Examines how fibre-rich diets supported the energy demands of larger brains.

Fibre as a Foundation for Modern Health

Anderson, J. W., Baird, P., & Davis, R. H. et al. (2009). “Health benefits of dietary fibre.” Nutrition Reviews, 67(4), 188–205.
Reviews fibre’s role in preventing chronic diseases and supporting metabolic stability.

Reynolds, A., Mann, J., & Cummings, J. et al. (2019). “Carbohydrate quality and human health: A series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.” The Lancet, 393(10170), 434–445.
Quantifies the benefits of high-fibre diets in reducing non-communicable diseases.

Slavin, J. (2013). “Fiber and prebiotics: Mechanisms and health benefits.” Nutrients, 5(4), 1417–1435.
Explores fibre’s role as a prebiotic in promoting systemic health.

Mechanotransduction and Biochemical Activation

Vogel, V. & Sheetz, M. (2006). “Local force and geometry sensing regulate cell functions.” Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 7(4), 265–275.
Highlights mechanotransduction processes activated by fibre.

Costantini, V. & Lemme, A. (2015). “The effect of dietary fibre on gut motility and transit time.” Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 49(6), 485–493.
Provides clinical evidence for fibre’s effects on gut motility and enzyme activation.

Cummings, J. H. & Macfarlane, G. T. (1997). “Role of intestinal bacteria in nutrient metabolism.” Clinical Nutrition, 16(1), 3–11.
Investigates fibre’s fermentation and its metabolic byproducts. 

Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Systemic Health

Brown, A. J., Goldsworthy, S. M., & Barnes, A. A. et al. (2003). “The orphan G protein-coupled receptors GPR41 and GPR43 are activated by propionate and other short-chain carboxylic acids.” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278(13), 11312–11319.
Explores SCFAs’ roles in immune modulation and metabolism.

Chambers, E. S., Preston, T., Frost, G., & Morrison, D. J. (2018). “Role of gut microbiota-generated short-chain fatty acids in metabolic and cardiovascular health.” Current Nutrition Reports, 7(4), 198–206.
Highlights the impact of SCFAs on inflammation, appetite, and cardiovascular health.

Fibre Deficiency and Modern Health Challenges

Anderson, J. W. & Burkitt, D. P. (1979). “Dietary fibre: Its role in modern nutrition.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 74(1), 47–51.
Discusses the health consequences of fibre-deficient diets.

O’Keefe, S. J., Li, J. V., & Lahti, L. et al. (2015). “Fat, fibre and cancer risk in African Americans and rural Africans.” Nature Communications, 6, 6342.
Explores the protective role of fibre against colorectal cancer in high-risk populations.