title: Effect of D-mannitol on nitrogen retention, fiber digestibility and digesta transit time in adult rabbits.
abstract: The aim of the current study was to elucidate the effect of gastrointestinal retention time of digesta on fiber digestibility in adult rabbits fed indigestible, but fermentable, sugar D-mannitol. Six adult rabbits were fed alternately a commercial diet containing 5% glucose and a diet containing D-mannitol. Total feces and urine were collected during the experimental period. Nitrogen (N) balance, digestibility of nutrients, and gastrointestinal mean retention time (MRT) were measured. The results indicated that urinary excretion was significantly lowered, whereas N retention and N accumulation rates were significantly increased in the D-mannitol group compared with the glucose group (P < 0.05). However, fecal N excretion was unaffected. Absorption of crude ash (CA) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility were significantly higher in the D-mannitol group compared with the glucose group (P < 0.05). The addition of D-mannitol to the diet did not affect the MRT of liquid digesta, but increased the MRT of solid digesta compared with the glucose group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the addition of D-mannitol to the diet stimulates cecal bacterial growth, thereby increasing N utilization and digesta retention time.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shouko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiura
authors.forename: Kiyonori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Ei
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism*; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008353:Mannitol; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: D-mannitol; N retention; adult rabbits; fiber digestibility; retention time