title: The effect of fiber source in enteral products on fecal weight, mineral balance, and growth rate in rats.
abstract: The effect of two fiber systems in enteral formulas on fecal output, mineral balance, weight gain, and cecal short-chain fatty acid production was studied in rats. Enteral products tested had either no fiber; soy fiber (3.4 g of total dietary fiber/8 fluid oz); a fiber blend containing 75% oat fiber, 17.5% gum arabic, and 7.5% carboxymethylcellulose (3.4 g of total dietary fiber/8 fluid oz); or the same blend at 4 g of total dietary fiber/8 fluid oz. Food, feces, and urine were analyzed for nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Cecal contents were analyzed for short-chain fatty acids. Weight gain, intake, food efficiency, and nitrogen balance were unaffected by fiber source. Fecal weight was increased by the fiber blend (p < .05). Calcium and magnesium balances were similar for all groups fed fiber-containing products but were lower for the fiber-free group (p < .05). Iron balance was significantly lower for rats fed the fiber blend at 4 g/8 fluid oz as compared with the other treatment groups (p < .05). Cecal acetate, propionate, and total short-chain fatty acid concentrations for rats fed the soy-fiber diet were significantly higher than for the other three diets (p < .05). Rats fed the fiber blend at the higher level had a significantly higher percentage of butyrate production than rats fed the other three diets (p < .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Division of Foods and Nutrition, College of Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112-7756.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Garleb
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chevreau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013025:Glycine max; D015430:Weight Gain; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008903:Minerals; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D009584:Nitrogen; D002118:Calcium