Page 18 - BIOCHEMISTRY II
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VI. Digestion of cellulose:
A.Cellulose is an insoluble dietary fiber made up of
glucose polymers that are found in all plant cell walls.
Examples of foods that contain cellulose include leafy,
green vegetables like green peas.
B.Cellulose contains β(1-4) bonds between glucose
molecules.
C.In humans, there is no β (1-4) glucosidase that can
digest such bonds. So cellulose passes as such in stool.
D.Cellulose helps water retention during the passage of
food along the intestine → producing larger and soft1e7r
feces → preventing constipation. 17
