Effect of viscous indigestible polysaccharides on pancreatic-biliary secretion and digestive organs in rats.
Effects of viscous indigestible polysaccharides on the pancreas exocrine function were investigated in growing rats. Rats were fed a nonfiber diet or a diet containing approximately 5% of one of the following fibers: apple pectin, lambda-carrageenan, locust bean gum, gum xanthan, guar gum or sodium (Na) alginate. Pancreatic-bile secretion was found to be elevated in rats fed for 2 wk the highly viscous polysaccharides, sodium alginate, locust bean gum, gum xanthan and guar gum. The polysaccharides may have interfered with the digestion and absorption of nutrients, resulting in a decreased digestibility and an enlargement of digestive organs. When alginic acid and calcium alginate, insoluble polysaccharides that did not contribute to viscosity, were given to rats, they had no effect on pancreatic and biliary secretion compared with sodium alginate. The results demonstrate that consumption of viscous indigestible polysaccharides leads to changes in the exocrine pancreatic-biliary function and may depress the process of digestion and absorption. Rats may compensate for the inefficiency of digestion and absorption with a hyperplasia/hypertrophy of digestive organs and an increased secretion of digestive juice.
Ikegami
S
S
Division of Food Science, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan.
Tsuchihashi
F
F
Harada
H
H
Tsuchihashi
N
N
Nishide
E
E
Innami
S
S
D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000032:analysis; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects; D014783:Viscosity
D000464:Alginates; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004798:Enzymes; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011506:Proteins; D020723:Glucuronic Acid