The Role of RS Type 2 (High‐Amylose Maize Starch) in the Inhibition of Colon Cancer: A Comprehensive Review of Short‐Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) Production and Anticancer Mechanisms

Dietary fiber, especially resistant starch (RS) Type 2 (RS2) found in high-amylose maize starch (HAMS), is vital for gut health and helps prevent colon cancer. In contrast to most nutrients, dietary fiber is not degraded by the intestinal enzymes; it reaches the distal parts of the gut, where it is fermented by the gut microbiota into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate. SCFAs energize colonocytes, reduce inflammation, and enhance gut immunity. HAMS is absorbed in the colon, where it ferments to create SCFAs that feed good gut flora and have antiinflammatory and antiproliferative effects. RS2 in HAMS modulates gene signaling, activates tumor-suppressor genes like tumor suppressor protein (p53), exhibits antidiabetic, cholesterol-lowering, and antiinflammatory effects. Incorporation of RS2-rich sources enhances gut barriers, decreases colorectal cancer biomarkers, and counteracts the negative impacts of low-fiber Western diets, making HAMS a promising functional food for chronic disease prevention and health promotion.