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.
Significant increases in the amounts of short-chain fatty acids and lactate, and in numbers of bifidobacteria were observed in the cecum of curdlan (CD) -fed rats as compared with those of cellulose-fed ones. The in vitro proliferation of 5 species of bifidobacteria was markedly increased in the cultures containing the supernatant obtained from the cecal contents of CD-fed rats. These findings suggest that bifidus factors have been produced in the cecum of CD-fed rats.
The present study was designed to determine the effect of purified viscous polysaccharides on pancreatic exocrine secretion and biliary output. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 5weeks were fed either on the control diet which contained no fiber or on the experimental diets that contained 5% indigestible polysaccharides (agar, k-carrageenan, Na alginate and konjac mannan). After pretreatment with each diet for 2 weeks, the diet was discontinued overnight, and the animals were then allowed to eat 4g of the test diet in 1h. Immediately after this, a polyethylene tube was placed in the common bile duct, under anesthesia. Combined, free drained pancreatic-bile juice was collected for the follow ing 1h. Long-term (2weeks) administration of Na-alginate and konjac mannan gave rise to increases in the volume of secreted juice and in the output of total bile acids, amylase and protease, whereas that of agar and kcarrageenan had no affect. Since a single dose of Na-alginate and konjac mannan was ineffective as regards pancreatic-bile secretion, the elevated secretion observed over prolonged periods may result from processes of adaptation against highly viscous polysaccharides.
A study was undertaken to determine the effects of Natto and steamed soybeans on body growth and the intestinal microflora of rats. Male Wistar rats (5 weeks of age and weighting 80g) were fed a control diet containing no Natto and steamed soybeans and an experimental diet containing either 10% Natto or 8.9% steamed soybeans for 31 days. Protein levels in the 3 groups were the same (15%). The results obtained were as follows: 1) Body weight gain during 31 days did not differ among the groups fed the various diets.2) The retroperitoneal fat tissue weight per carcass weight (%) in the Natto and steamed soybean groups decreased.3) The nitrogen balance of the Natto and steamed soybean groups increased. 4) The Natto and steamed soybean groups showed a tendency to increase in the length of the small intestine and thiamin content in the cecum. In the cecum, the pH and number of E. coli per g were decreased in the Natto and steamed soybean groups.
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