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Review
. 2024 Jan 12:10:1286138.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1286138. eCollection 2023.

Dietary fiber pectin: challenges and potential anti-inflammatory benefits for preterms and newborns

Janaina L S Donadio  1   2   3 , João Paulo Fabi  2   3 , Marcelo B Sztein  1 , Rosângela Salerno-Gonçalves  1
Affiliations
Review

Dietary fiber pectin: challenges and potential anti-inflammatory benefits for preterms and newborns

Janaina L S Donadio et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Pectins, a class of dietary fibers abundant in vegetables and fruits, have drawn considerable interest due to their potential anti-inflammatory properties. Numerous studies have indicated that incorporating pectins into infant formula could be a safe strategy for alleviating infant regurgitation and diarrhea. Moreover, pectins have been shown to modulate cytokine production, macrophage activity, and NF-kB expression, all contributing to their anti-inflammatory effects. Despite this promising evidence, the exact mechanisms through which pectins exert these functions and how their structural characteristics influence these processes remain largely unexplored. This knowledge is particularly significant in the context of gut inflammation in developing preterm babies, a critical aspect of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and in children and adults dealing with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our mini review aims to provide an up-to-date compilation of relevant research on the effects of pectin on gut immune responses, specifically focusing on preterms and newborns. By shedding light on the underlying mechanisms and implications of pectin-mediated anti-inflammatory properties, this review seeks to advance our knowledge in this area and pave the way for future research and potential therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: inflammation; intestine; newborn; pectin; preterm.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic structure of pectins.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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