Physiological effects of water-soluble soybean fiber in rats.
Four-week-old rats were fed on diets containing either no dietary fiber (DF) or a DF source (WSSF, ISF or cellulose) for 4 weeks. The DF level was adjusted to 5%. The WSSF diet contained 3% and 2%, respectively, of WSSF and cellulose. No rat in any group experienced diarrhea, and none of the experimental diets suppressed the growth of rats, the apparent absorption of major nutrients being almost 100%. However, the rate of degradation of DF during the digestive process was significantly different (p < 0.05, cellulose, 23.6%; WSSF with cellulose, 64.5% (WSSF degradation only was 91.8%); and ISF, 77.6%). The plasma and liver lipid levels were within normal ranges, although the liver cholesterol level in those rats fed on WSSF and ISF was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in those fed on cellulose. The cecal organic acid contents were in the order of WSSF > ISF > cellulose > DF-free. Furthermore, WSSF was effective in shortening the gastrointestinal transit time. The results indicate that WSSF seems to have favorable effects on the intestinal functions.
Takahashi
T
T
Novelty Materials Research Institute, Tsukuba R&D Center, Fuji Oil Co. Ltd., Ibaraki, Japan. 910279@so.fujioil.co.jp
Maeda
H
H
Aoyama
T
T
Yamamoto
T
T
Takamatsu
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000378:metabolism; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012995:Solubility; D013025:Glycine max; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014867:Water