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Overview
non-starch polysaccharide
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(NSP)
Those polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates), other than starches, found in foods. They are the major part of dietary fibre and can be measured more precisely than total dietary fibre; they include cellulose, pectins, glucans, gums, mucilages, inulin, and chitin (and exclude lignin). The NSP in wheat, maize, and rice are mainly insoluble and have a laxative effect, while those in oats, barley, rye, and beans are mainly soluble and have a cholesterol lowering effect. In vegetables the proportions of soluble to insoluble are roughly equal but vary in fruits. It is recommended that the average intake should be increased from 13 to 18 g per day.
Subjects: Medicine and health
