title: Artificial fiber complexes composed of cellulose and guar gum or psyllium may be better sources of soluble fiber for rats than comparable fiber mixtures.
abstract: Three fiber complexes composed of cellulose and the same weight of guar gum, cornstarch or psyllium were constructed as three-dimensional networks of cellulose fiber filled with the soluble components. Physiological properties of these fiber complexes were examined in comparison with a mixture of powdered cellulose and the corresponding polysaccharides at a ratio of 1:1 in rats. Another group of rats was fed a fiber-free diet. Body weight gain in the guar gum-cellulose mixture group, but not in guar gum-cellulose complex group, was lower than that of the fiber-free group. The cecal walls in the groups fed the guar gum-cellulose and psyllium-cellulose mixture diets were heavier than those in the corresponding fiber complex-fed groups. Weights of the small intestinal wall and ileal mucosa were also greater in the guar gum-cellulose mixture-fed group than in the guar gum-cellulose complex-fed and the fiber-free diet-fed groups. Fermentable energy in dietary fiber estimated from fecal energy excretion, short-chain fatty acid contents and in vitro short-chain fatty acid production rates in the cecum of the complex-fed groups were similar to those in the fiber mixture-fed groups. However, butyric acid content and production rate in the group fed the guar gum-cellulose complex were markedly higher than in the other groups. The lowering effects of guar gum-cellulose and psyllium-cellulose mixtures on plasma cholesterol concentration tended to be greater than those of guar gum-cellulose and psyllium-cellulose complexes. These findings demonstrate that the artificial fiber complexes supply soluble fibers without increasing mechanical stress to the intestines and decreasing cecal fermentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiriyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002482:Cellulose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004435:Eating; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005685:Galactans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009929:Organ Size; D053149:Plant Gums; D011620:Psyllium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012995:Solubility; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; D011620:Psyllium; D002482:Cellulose; C007894:guar gum