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Even though these complex carbohydrates are not very digestible, they may comprise important dietary elements for humans.

Called dietary fiber, these carbohydrates enhance digestion among other benefits.

The main action of dietary fiber is to change the nature of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract, and to change how other nutrients and chemicals are absorbed.

Soluble fiber binds to bile acids in the small intestine, making them less likely to enter the body ; this in turn lowers cholesterol levels in the blood.

Soluble fiber also attenuates the absorption of sugar, reduces sugar response after eating, normalizes blood lipid levels and, once fermented in the colon, produces short-chain fatty acids as byproducts with wide-ranging physiological activities ( discussion below ).

Although insoluble fiber is associated with reduced diabetes risk, the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown.