Which of the following best explains how fiber slows energy absorption from food?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To evaluate the statement, we need to connect the role of dietary fiber with how quickly nutrients enter the bloodstream after a meal.
Option 1 states that fiber stimulates insulin production in the pancreas. While insulin response is related to glucose absorption, this option misattributes a direct effect to fiber. Fiber itself is not known to directly stimulate insulin secretion; the primary role of fiber is not endocrine stimulation but physical effects on digestion, so this option is not accurate.
Option 2 claims that fiber promotes digestion, which increases the rate of nutrient absorption. This runs counter to the established effect of fiber, especially soluble fiber, which tends to slow gastric emptying and the movement of nutrients, thereby slowing absorption. The idea that fiber would speed absorption is therefore incorrect.
Option 3 asserts that fiber lines the intestines, slowing the absorption of food into the bloodstream. This aligns with the known mechanism: dietary fiber can form viscous networks or bulk in the intestinal lumen, which slows the rate at which carbohydrates and other nutrients are taken up into the bloodstream. This explanation fits the concept of fiber slowing energy absorption.
Option 4 suggests that fiber reduces the production of hormones and neurotransmitters by the gut microbiome. While the gut microbiome influences metabolite production and signaling, this statement is overly broad and not a standard description of how fiber affects absorption rate. It also suggests a direct reduction in hormones/neurotransmitters rather than focusing on the physical slowing of absorption, making it less directly relevant to the question.
In summary, the core idea is whether fiber affects the pace of nutrient uptake. Option 3 directly describes the mechanical/physiological mechanism by which fiber slows absorption, while the other options describe effects that are either incorrect or only tangentially related to absorption rate.

Which of the following best explains how fiber slows energy absorption from food?

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