Physicochemical changes upon micronization process positively improve the intestinal health-enhancement ability of carrot insoluble fibre

The influences of the particle size reduction and physicochemical changes by micron technology on the intestinal health-improvement ability of a promising carrot insoluble fibre was investigated. The feeding of the micronized fibres (10.3–20.9 μm), especially that prepared by the high-pressure micronization, could significantly (p < 0.05) improve some caecal and faecal parameters in the intestinal lumen by decreasing caecal ammonia concentration (−25.5%), increasing faecal output (137%) and moisture content (142%), and also reducing the activities of undesired β-d-glucosidase (−42.1%) and β-d-glucuronidase (−68.9%) in faeces. The relationships between the physicochemical properties and physiological functions of the micronized fibres have been discussed. The results also demonstrated that both the particle size and way of treatment were important factors affecting the physicochemical properties and physiological functions of fibres, and the consumption of micronized fibre at 5% level might exert a favourable effect on improving intestinal health.