Soluble fiber viscosity affects both goblet cell number and small intestine mucin secretion in rats.

We examined the role of soluble fiber viscosity in small intestinal mucin secretion. Viscosities were defined as the area under the viscosity curve (VAUC). Rats were fed a control diet or diets containing konjac mannan (KM) [low, medium, or high molecular weight (LKM, MKM, HKM), respectively] at 50 g/kg diet for 10 d.

Short-chain inulin-like fructans reduce endotoxin and bacterial translocations and attenuate development of TNBS-induced colitis in rats.

Anti-inflammatory effects of short-chain inulin-like fructans (SCF) on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis were investigated in rats, focusing specifically on endotoxin and bacterial translocations. SCF with degrees of polymerization (DP) of 4 and 8 were used. Rats were fed either control diet or diets including 60 g DP4 or DP8 per kilogram for 7 days, and then received intracolonic TNBS and were fed the respective diets for a further 10 days.

Cellobiose is extensively digested in the small intestine by beta-galactosidase in rats.

Objective: The bioavailability of cellobiose (CEB) was investigated with respect to small intestinal digestibility and cecal fermentation in rats. Further, whether small intestinal beta-galactosidase is responsible for the hydrolysis of CEB was examined.

Methods: Ileorectostomized rats were fed diets including 6% CEB or fructo-oligosaccharide with or without 0.

Long-term ingestion of insoluble dietary fiber increases luminal mucin content, but has no effect on nutrient absorption in rats.

We reexamined the hypothesis that increased mucin secretion by the ingestion of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) could affect small intestinal nutrient absorption. Polystyrene foam (PSF) was used as IDF. Rats were fed a diet with or without 90 g of PSF/kg for 1, 2 and 4 wk.

In vitro and in vivo digestibility of native maize starch granules varying in amylose contents.

Digestibility of maize starch granules with different amylose content (AL-0, 22, 54, 68, 80, or 90%) was investigated. Measurement of the in vivo resistant starch (RS) content of the starches was performed using surgically prepared ileorectostomized rats. The rats were fed a purified diet containing one of the starches at 652.

Estimation of luminal mucin content in rats by measurement of O-linked oligosaccharide chains and direct ELISA.

Changes in the small intestinal mucin contents in rats were evaluated by two methods, viz., a newly established ELISA and a method based on the measurement of O-linked oligosaccharide chains (OSC) as a mucin marker. Significant correlation was observed between the values of ELISA-derived mucins and OSC.

Partial replacement of waxy cornstarch by recrystallized amylose retards the development of insulin resistance in rats.

We examined in rats whether or not the prolonged ingestion of recrystallized amylose (RCA) would prevent the development of insulin resistance. Rats were fed on a diet containing waxy cornstarch (WCS) as carbohydrate or a diet containing 30% RCA in place of WCS for 18 wk. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) was conducted at every four weeks.

Increased luminal mucin does not disturb glucose or ovalbumin absorption in rats fed insoluble dietary fiber.

We tested whether increased mucin secretion due to ingestion of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) affects small intestinal nutrient absorption in rats. Polystyrene foam (PSF) with a true expansion ratio of 54.9 was used as a model for IDF with high bulk-forming properties.

Dietary indigestible components exert different regional effects on luminal mucin secretion through their bulk-forming property and fermentability.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dietary indigestible components on mucin secretion in the respective parts of the gastrointestinal tract through their physico-chemical properties. Rats were fed either a control diet or diets containing 5% polystyrene foam (PSF), 5% fructooligosaccharide (FOS), 5% PSF + 5% FOS, or 10% beet fiber for 10 d. Mucins in the small intestine and feces were greater in the PSF, PSF + FOS, and beet fiber groups than in the control and FOS groups.

Small intestinal mucins are secreted in proportion to the settling volume in water of dietary indigestible components in rats.

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of dietary indigestible components on small intestinal mucin secretion. We prepared polystyrene foam (PSF) with different expansion ratios (PSF-30, -60 and -90) in which powders had different settling volumes in water (SV). Rats were fed a purified diet containing 0, 10, 30, or 90 g of PSF-60/kg for 10 d.

Dietary resistant starch alters the characteristics of colonic mucosa and exerts a protective effect on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats.

The protective effect of a dietary high-amylose cornstarch (HAS) against trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis was examined in rats. Rats were fed a HAS-free basal diet or, a 15% or 30% HAS supplemented diet for 10 d, and then received intracolonic TNBS to induce colitis and fed the respective diets for a further 8 d. HAS ingestion significantly protected colonic injuries as evidenced by lower colonic myeloperoxidase activity.

Physiological functions of resistant proteins: proteins and peptides regulating large bowel fermentation of indigestible polysaccharide.

Animal studies have shown conclusively that feeding of resistant starch (RS) increases production of large bowel total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). However, fermentation products of RS may be affected considerably by other dietary ingredients. In rats fed a 20% high-amylose cornstarch (HAS) with casein as the sole protein source, greater cecal SCFAs production was observed compared with that in rats fed a regular cornstarch diet.

Green tea flavonoids inhibit the LDL oxidation in osteogenic disordered rats fed a marginal ascorbic acid in diet.

Osteogenic Disorder Shionogi (ODS) rats can not synthesize ascorbic acid (AA). We have examined the capacity of green tea flavonoids (GTF) to modify low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in ODS rats with dietary AA restriction. In the first experiment, ODS rats were fed diets containing 300 (AA300 diet) or 0 (AA0 diet) mg AA/kg diets for 20 d.

Expression of apolipoprotein A-I mRNA in liver and intestine of cecectomized rats fed beet fiber.

Sham-operated and cecectomized rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with no added fiber (fiber-free) for 10 days, followed by the diet of 15% beet fiber for 10 days. The plasma cholesterol concentrations in rats fed the fiber-free diet were not significantly different between sham-operated and cecectomized groups. Plasma cholesterol concentrations in sham-operated rats were decreased by feeding the beet fiber diet, whereas those in cecectomized rats did not change.