title: Influence of diet and age on fecal bacterial enzymes.
abstract: The bacterial enzymes beta-glucuronidase, azoreductase, and nitroreductase, all implicated in the etiology of colon cancer, were measured in the fecal microflora of rats and humans. The effect of a high-beef diet and advanced age on the activities of these microbial enzymes were determined in the rat. Rats shifted from a grain to a meat diet showed a 1.5- to 2.5-fold increase in activity of all three fecal enzymes. Animals over 20 months of age, consuming a meat diet, showed a further increase in fecal beta-glucuronidase activity, while the levels of all three microbial enzymes increased in old rats fed a grain diet. Fecal microbial enzyme activities were also measured in humans eating a diet supplemented with bran or wheat germ. Humans receiving fiber supplements consisting of 30 g of bran or wheat germ added to their customary diets did not show significant changes in fecal enzyme activity.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D004124:p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D004124:p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; D005966:Glucuronidase