Dietary Fibres

The split that matters is between fibres bought for what they do in the food and fibres bought for what they do after it is eaten. Citrus Fiber, Soy Dietary Fiber and cereal brans are largely insoluble and are used for water binding, texture and yield, with citrus fibre also stabilising emulsions once it has been sheared open. Inulin, Xylo-oligosaccharide and Chitosan Oligosaccharide are soluble and are bought as prebiotics or as bulking agents.

Within the soluble group, chain length and stability separate them. Inulin is sold across a range of chain lengths, short chain material being sweeter and more soluble and long chain material able to form a fat mimicking gel, but it hydrolyses in acidic drinks under heat. Xylo-oligosaccharide is stable to acid and heat and is effective at a much lower daily dose, which is why it is priced well above inulin per kilogramme.