Adenosine increases interleukin 6 release and decreases tumour necrosis factor release from rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells, ovarian cells, anterior pituitary cells, and peritoneal macrophages

The health benefits associated with dietary fiber have resulted in it now being used in virtually all food product categories, including many products which are manufactured using extrusion processing. The objective of the present study was to determine if extrusion processing affected phytic acid, and soluble and insoluble fiber contents. The effect of screw speeds of 50, 70, and 100% of maximum rotations per minute (% MRPM) on these components was investigated. A BI-EX Model DNDG-62/20D co-rotating intermeshing self-cleaning twin-screw extruder, manufactured by Bühlerag, CH-9240, Uzwil, Switzerland, was used to process wheat, oat and rice brans. It was found that extrusion did not affect the insoluble fiber content of wheat bran; however, a decrease in this component was observed in rice and oat brans. The effect on rice bran insoluble fiber was greatest at screw speeds of 50 and 70% MRPM. This occurred in oat bran at 50% MRPM. Soluble fiber content increased in all brans after extrusion, except ER100. For oat and rice bran soluble fibers, the greatest increase occurred at 50 and 70% MRPM, while for wheat bran this occurred at 70 and 100% MRPM. Extrusion did not affect the phytate content of the cereal brans.     

Insoluble dietary fiber of grain food legumes and protein digestibility

The present work aimed to verify the digestibility of cooked whole food grain legumes. Samples of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna sinensis), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) and lentils (Lens culinaris) were used in the experiment. The interrelationship between the insoluble dietary fiber presented in the food grain legumes and the low protein digestibility was studied. The insoluble dietary fiber and the proteic nitrogen presented in the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were determined. "In vivo" digestibility was performed in rats fed with diets containing cooked grain legumes, casein and protein free diet. The experiments were performed on rats over a period of 21 days. High excretion of nitrogen was observed by rats fed with cooked food grain legumes compared to casein diet. "In vitro" digestibility was performed by enzymatic hydrolysis with pepsin and trypsin. No significant differences was found between "in vivo" and "in vitro" digestibility. The heat treatment caused increased in the values of insoluble dietary fiber by the complexation of its components with protein and aminoacids. The results obtained showed the increased of the insoluble dietary fiber, in the cooked samples compared with raw samples. Significant values of protein nitrogen were found in the NDF, suggested that it was originated by complexation with proteins and aminoacids. This fact contributed to become proteic nitrogen nonavailability decreasing consequently the digestibility of the proteins.     

Long-term effect of soluble-fiber foods on postprandial fat metabolism in dyslipidemic subjects with apo E3 and apo E4 genotypes

To determine the long-term effect of soluble fiber on postprandial fat metabolism, we studied 33 dyslipidemic subjects, 16 with apolipoprotein (apo) E3/3 (E3) and 17 with E3/4 or E4/4 (E4) genotypes. They ate preweighed low-fat (20% of energy), high-fiber (> 5.7 g/MJ) diets for two 4-mo periods separated by a 2-mo washout period according to a randomized, crossover design. One diet contained foods rich in insoluble fiber and the other foods rich in soluble fiber. On 1 d during the last 2 wk of each diet, subjects ingested a standard, fiber-free, fatty liquid meal containing retinyl palmitate as a marker of intestinally derived lipoproteins. Plasma samples were obtained at hourly intervals for 10 h. Compared with the insoluble-fiber diet, soluble fiber reduced fasting plasma total cholesterol in both E3 (6.6 +/- 2.1%, P = 0.007)and E4 subjects (5.6 +/- 2.1%, P = 0.017). Soluble fiber increased fecal total bile acid output in both E3 (76 +/- 18%, P < 0.001) and E4 subjects (85 +/- 19%, P < 0.001). The incremental area under the chylomicron triacylglycerol response curve was significantly greater after soluble fiber than after insoluble fiber in E3 (3.56 +/- 0.56 compared with 2.87 +/- 0.38 mmol x h/L, respectively, P = 0.046) but not in E4 subjects (5.19 +/- 0.78 compared with 4.92 +/- 0.81 mmol x h/L). Kinetic analysis suggested an increase in retinyl palmitate absorption in E3 subjects after soluble fiber, but no difference in E4 subjects. These results suggest that a long-term increase in dietary soluble fiber has no effect on postprandial fat metabolism in subjects with an apo E3/4 or E4/4 genotype. However, soluble fiber enhances apparent fat absorption in E3 subjects, which could be due to an increased bile acid pool and increased micelle formation.     

A prospective study of dietary fiber types and symptomatic diverticular disease in men

To examine prospectively dietary fiber calculated from food composition values based on analytic techniques and specific dietary fiber types in relation to risk of diverticular disease, we analyzed data from a prospective cohort of 43,881 U.S. male health professionals 40-75 y of age at base line; subjects were free of diagnosed diverticular disease, colon or rectal polyps, ulcerative colitis and cancer. The insoluble component of fiber was inversely associated with risk of diverticular disease relative risk (RR) = 0. 63, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44-0.91, P for trend = 0.02, and this association was particularly strong for cellulose (RR = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.36-0.75, P for trend = 0.002). The association between diverticular disease and total dietary fiber intake calculated from the AOACstandards method was not appreciably different from results using the Southgate or Englyst method [for AOAC method, RR = 0.60, 95% CI, 0.41-0.87; for Southgate method, RR = 0.61, 95% CI, 0.42-0. 88; for Englyst method, RR = 0.60, 95% CI, 0.42-0.87, for the highest quintiles]. Our findings provide evidence for the hypothesis that a diet high in dietary fiber decreases the risk of diverticular disease, and this result was not sensitive to the use of different analytic techniques to define dietary fiber. Our findings suggest that the insoluble component of fiber was significantly associated with a decreased risk of diverticular disease, and this inverse association was particularly strong for cellulose.     

Incidence and significance of cardiac arrhythmia in geriatric oral surgery patients

The inclusion of algae as a source of fiber in the diet is justified by the present need to increase the intake of this nutrient. The aim of this study was to study on rats, the effect of dietary algae fiber on fecal weight and apparent digestibility of energy, protein and fiber. The type of algae studied were cochayuyo (frond) and ulte (basal part) (Durvillea antarctica), luche verde (Ulva lactuca) and luche rojo (Porphyra columbina). All these algae were boiled and dried at 55 degrees under air flow. Male rats, Wistar strain of 25 days of age, were fed during 29 days with diets containing casein plus the inclusion of 10% (weight) of one of these algae dietary fiber. A group having no fiber intake was used as a Control group. Algae content of dietary fiber ranged between 58.2-75.6 g/100 g (dry weight), soluble fiber portion constituted 37.9-52.4%. In relation to the Control group it was found significant reduction in the apparent digestibility of protein and energy, and a significant reduction in fecal weight. Dietary fiber digestibility ranged between 21.1 and 43.1%. This study shows that algae can be an excellent dietary fiber source, very useful to prevent or treat different fiber-deficiency related diseases.     

Isolation of a non-sedimenting membrane fraction from the water soluble fraction of bovine lens

A membrane fraction was isolated from the water soluble fraction of bovine lens by increasing the density of the water soluble fraction with KBr and subjecting it to overnight centrifugation at 100000 g. We have called this fraction, which floats to the top of the mixture upon centrifugation, the non-sedimenting membrane fraction (NSMF). Electron microscopy of the NSMF revealed that it is composed of the expected membrane structures of unit membrane, fiber junction and cytoskeleton. Significantly less of the total membrane of the NSMF was devoted to fiber junction (22.8%) than in the sedimenting membrane fraction (SMF) (41.1%) prepared by sucrose density centrifugation of the water insoluble fraction. The NSMF accounted for about 7-12% of the total bovine lens membrane, and preliminary experiments demonstrated that a similar fraction could be isolated from the water soluble fraction of lenses from rats, rabbits, chickens and humans. The NSMF contained about 0.9 mg total lipid per mg total membrane protein, which was significantly greater than the value obtained for the SMF (0.5 mg total lipid per mg total membrane protein). The greater relative amount of total lipid in the NSMF was due to a significantly greater relative amount of phospholipid in the NSMF which was further reflected by the observation that the cholesterol: phospholipid molar ration of the NSMF (0.58) was significantly less than that of the SMF (0.88). Thus the relative lipid composition of the NSMF was significantly different than that of the SMF. Although the phospholipid content of the NSMF was greater than that of the SMF, the compositions of the phospholipids in the two membrane fractions were similar. The NSMF possessed essentially the same polypeptides (both extrinsic and intrinsic) which were found in the SMF. The NSMF was found to be distributed throughout the lens in a proportionate manner. We conclude that the NSMF may account for most of the lipid which remains in the water soluble fraction of the normal bovine lens after sedimentation of the water insoluble fraction. This membrane fraction substantially differs from the SMF in terms of structure and relative lipid composition. We speculate that the NSMF may represent a specialised domain of the fiber cell plasma membrane which has been previously unrecognized.     

Role of posture in mechanics of the lumbar spine in compression

Thirty-four foods were analyzed in order to determine the content of water-soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). Using the results with the standard table for 227 foods, the intake ratio of IDF/SDF of an average Japanese was calculated for the period 1946-1990. The ratio was 3.22 in 1990 as calculated on the food intakes shown in the national nutrition survey, and the secular change was not detected since 1946 when the ratio was 3.30. The ratio was also shown to be well preserved between types of households including the age of the head. Using dietary records of 60 healthy city workers (average 42.8 years) for 4 weeks, however, the weekly average ratio for an individual was found to vary in the range of 2.25-5.13 although the total average for 60 individuals was 3.33. Thus, the well preserved IDF/SDF intake ratio for an average Japanese showed, on the contrary, a wide variation of food selection between each person.     

Novel configurations of the hammerhead ribozyme: increased activity and reduced magnesium ion requirement

Generally, stool weight is significantly increased by adding sources of insoluble fiber to the diet. Comparable amounts of fiber provided by wheat and oat brans have the same effect on daily stool output, even though > 90% of wheat bran fiber but only 50-60% of oat bran fiber is insoluble. To determine the bases for these increases in stool weight, stool samples collected from 5 men in 2 constant diet studies that determined the effects of wheat and oat brans on large-bowel physiology were fractionated by using a physicochemical procedure into plant, bacterial, and soluble fractions, which were weighed and analyzed for sugar content and composition. Nitrogen, crude fat, and ash outputs were also determined. Wheat bran increased the fecal concentration of sugars and mass of plant material more than did oat bran, whereas oat bran increased fecal bacterial mass more. Each fiber source increased nitrogen, ash, and fat excretion, but excretion of fat was greater with oat bran. The apparent digestibility of plant-derived neutral sugars decreased significantly when wheat but not oat bran was consumed. The apparent digestibility of neutral sugars provided by wheat bran was 56%; the apparent digestibility of those provided by oat bran was 96%. We conclude that bacteria and lipids are major contributors to the increase in stool weight with oat bran consumption, whereas undigested plant fiber is responsible for much of the increase in stool weight with wheat bran consumption. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that oat bran increases stool weight by providing rapidly fermented soluble fiber in the proximal colon for bacterial growth, which is sustained until excretion by fermentation of the insoluble fiber.     

The interaction of dietary fibers and cholesterol upon the plasma lipids and lipoproteins, sterol balance, and bowel function in human subjects

To identify any metabolic effects of dietary fiber upon cholesterol metabolism in man, six adult volunteer subjects were fed eucaloric cholesterol-free formula diets, with and without added dietary fiber for two 4-wk periods. A large quantity of dietary fiber was fed, some 60 g of plant cell wall material (or 16 g of crude fiber) derived from corn, beans, bran, pectin, and purified cellulose. This provided about five times the fiber intake of the typical American diet. The addition of fiber to the cholesterol-free diet did not change either the plasma cholesterol level (171+/-21 mg/dl, SEM, to 167+/-18) or the triglyceride (103+/-39 to 93+/-27 mg/dl). The excretion of both endogenous neutral steroids and bile acids were unchanged with fiber (505+/-41 to 636+/-75 mg/day and 194+/-23 to 266+/-47 mg/day, respectively.) However, total fecal steroid excretion was increased 699+/-29 to 902+/-64 mg/day, P < 0.025). With fiber, intestinal transit time was decreased (59+/-9 to 35+/-8 h, P < 0.005), and both the wet and dry stool weights were greatly increased.A second group of six subjects was fed similar diets containing 1,000 mg cholesterol derived from egg yolk. The addition of fiber to the 1,000-mg cholesterol diet did not alter either plasma cholesterol level (233+/-26 to 223+/-36 mg/dl) or triglyceride (102+/-19 to 83+/-11 mg/dl). The excretion of endogenous neutral steroids (618+/-84 to 571+/-59 mg/day), of bile acids (423+/-122 to 401+/-89 mg/day), and of total fecal steroids (1,041+/-175 to 972+/-111 mg/day) were unchanged by fiber. The absorption of dietary cholesterol was not altered when fiber was added to the 1,000-mg cholesterol diet (44.0+/-3.3 to 42.9+/-2.5%). A two-way analysis of variance utilizing both groups of subjects indicated a significant (P < 0.001) effect of dietary cholesterol upon the plasma cholesterol concentration. We concluded that a large quantity of dietary fiber from diverse sources had little or no effect upon the plasma lipids and sterol balance in man in spite of the fact that intestinal transit time and stool bulk changed greatly.     

Soluble non-starch polysaccharides derived from complex food matrices do not increase average lipid droplet size during gastric lipid emulsification in rats

The creation of a finely dispersed lipid emulsion is essential for efficient hydrolysis of dietary triglycerides. The effectiveness of emulsification within the stomach depends upon the shear force generated by gastric motility and the concentration of emulsifiers present in the gastric contents. Other dietary constituents can modify these factors, and previous studies have suggested that the presence of soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) during digestion might increase the average size of intraluminal emulsion droplets. In the present study, we developed a new technique for the isolation and analysis of intraluminal lipid emulsions by optical diffraction analysis. The method was applied to rats fed powdered semipurified diets that were free of all NSP or supplemented with insoluble cellulose, guar gum, or NSP derived from apple, carrot or rolled oats. Cellulose had no significant effect on emulsion size, and there was no evidence that the average sizes of lipid droplets in the gastric fundus or antrum were higher than control values in rats fed diets supplemented with any source of soluble NSP. In the groups fed oats and cooked carrot NSP, the mean droplet diameters approached half the values for diets free of NSP or containing insoluble cellulose. The difference between rats fed NSP from cooked carrot and those fed cellulose was significant in the proximal stomach (P < 0.05), and that between rats fed raw oats and rats fed cellulose was significant in the distal stomach (P < 0.05). Soluble dietary fiber does not inhibit lipid or cholesterol absorption via any inhibition of lipid emulsification.     

Dietary practices and lipid intake in relation to plasma lipid profile in Hong Kong Chinese

OBJECTIVE: To study dietary lipid intake and plasma lipid profile of the Hong Kong Chinese population as part of a territory wide survey on cardiovascular risk factors. DESIGN: Randomised age and sex stratified survey. SUBJECTS: 1010 subjects aged 25-74 y (500 men, 510 women). MEASUREMENTS: A food frequency method with food tables compiled for Hong Kong was used for nutrient quantitation, while a separate questionnaire was used to examine dietary practices. Plasma lipid profile was estimated using standard laboratory methods. RESULTS: Total calorie, fat, saturated fatty acid (SFA), poly- and mono-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA and MUFA), and cholesterol intake were higher in men; however when adjusted for caloric intake no difference was observed. Men had lower intake of PUFA as percentage of total energy had a higher Hegsted Score compared with women. Subjects consuming beans twice or more per week had lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Overall, the population dietary intake was close to the ideal for cardiovascular health: percentage fat not greater than 30% of the total calorie intake, saturated fat intake not greater than 10% of calories, and cholesterol less than 180 mg/1000 Kcal. CONCLUSION: The dietary pattern for Hong Kong Chinese appear to be satisfactory with respect to cardiovascular health.     

Dietary soluble fiber lowers plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations by altering lipoprotein metabolism in female guinea pigs

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of pectin (PE), guar gum (GG) and psyllium (PSY) intake on VLDL and LDL metabolism in female guinea pigs fed high dietary cholesterol. Guinea pigs were fed a 15 g/100 g fat diet containing 0.25 g/100 g cholesterol with 12.5 g/100 g PE, 12.5 g/100 g GG, 7.5 g/100 g PSY or 12.5 g/100 g cellulose (control diet) for 4 wk. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were 29, 43 and 39% lower in guinea pigs fed PE, GG or PSY, respectively, compared with the control group (P < 0.0001). Plasma apolipoprotein (apo) B concentrations were 16-22% lower in the groups fed soluble fiber compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In contrast, hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were not different among the PE, GG, PSY and control groups. No differences in triacylglycerol (TAG) or apo B secretion rates, measured by blocking VLDL catabolism by triton (WR 1339) injection, were observed, whereas plasma LDL apo B fractional catabolic rates (FCR), determined by injection of radiolabeled LDL, were higher in guinea pigs fed GG or PSY than in those from the control group. All sources of dietary soluble fiber reduced LDL apo B flux (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the mechanisms of plasma LDL cholesterol lowering by dietary soluble fiber are distinctive for each fiber source and result in specific alterations in lipoprotein metabolism in female guinea pigs. Differences between male and female guinea pigs in response to these diets are discussed.     

Development of data-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for dietary studies in middle-aged Japanese

BACKGROUND: We designed a data-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to clarify the relationship between food intake and lifestyle-related diseases among middle-aged Japanese. METHODS: A total of 351 middle-aged individuals were recruited to a one-day weighed diet record survey in 1994. In all, 586 foods were consumed. Intake of 31 nutrients including energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber by food was computed by multiplying the weight of food consumed by its nutrient content. First, 252 foods with up to 90 cumulative % contribution to nutrient intake were selected. Of these, foods having apparently the same/similar nutrient content were combined into 206 foods by research dietitians. Next, 183 foods with up to 0.90 cumulative multiple regression coefficient and 90 cumulative % contribution were chosen. At this stage an additional food grouping was made. RESULTS: Finally, 102 foods/recipes were included in the questionnaire: rice (2 items), bread and noodles (11), eggs, milk and dairy products (10), soybean, soybean products and other beans (7), meat including beef, pork and chicken (12), fish (5), other fish, shellfish and fish products (10), green-yellow vegetables (8), other vegetables and mushrooms (7), edible roots (2), seaweeds (3), seeds (2), fruits (8), beverages (7) and confectioneries (8). The frequencies were classified into eight categories. Portion size was calculated for the respective foods largely from the one-day weighed diet record. CONCLUSIONS: The developed semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire substantially covered the intake of 31 nutrients and may be competent to rank middle-aged Japanese efficiently.     

Shelf-life of prepeeled potato cultivated, stored, and processed by various methods

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of indigestible dextrin and polydextrose, soluble dietary fibers with low molecular weight, on lipid metabolism and disaccharidase activities of intestinal mucosa in rats fed a high sucrose diet. Their effects were compared with those of well-known soluble fibers, pectin, and guar gum, and also with an insoluble fiber, cellulose. Dietary fibers added to diets at the 5% (w/w) level were alpha-cellulose, pectin, guar gum, indigestible dextrin, and polydextrose. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given free access to test diets for 6 weeks. Body weight gain was the lowest in rats fed guar gum, the highest in rats fed cellulose, and in-between in rats fed other diets. Although guar gum, pectin, and indigestible feeding dextrin had lower plasma lipid values than cellulose feeding did, the differences were statistically insignificant. Liver triglyceride of the guar gum-fed group was about a third that of the cellulose-fed group, but although those of rats fed polydextrose, indigestible dextrin, and pectin were lower than that of cellulose, the differences were insignificant. Liver cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations were similar among groups. Daily fecal excretion of total lipid, cholesterol, and bile acids were highest in rats fed guar gum, followed by pectin-fed and cellulose-fed rats, and the lowest in rats fed indigestible dextrin and polydextrose. Jejunal sucrase activity was low in the order of guar-gum, polydextrose, indigestible dextrin, pectin, and cellulose. The results indicate that the hypolipidemic effect of soluble dietary fibers would be lessened with reduction in molecular weight, but that the lower sucrase activity by soluble fibers with low molecular weight might be beneficial for hypoglycemic effect.     

Determination of total dietary fiber in foods and food products by using a single-enzyme, enzymatic-gravimetric method: interlaboratory study

A simplified enzymatic-gravimetric method for total dietary fiber (TDF) determination has been published and used in the Food Composition Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture since 1988. THis method gives comparable results to AOAC Official Methods 985.29 and 991.43 but the AOAC methods use 100 degrees C (water bath) to gelatinize the sample and a combination of alpha-amylase and an amyloglucosidase to hydrolyze starches, whereas the simplified method incorporates an autoclaving step (121 degrees C) for gelatinization followed by incubation with only amyloglucosidase. The simplified method omits protease hydrolysis and does not require any pH adjustment. Overall, the simplified method cuts cost and is less labor intensive. An interlaboratory study was conducted to validate this method. Blind duplicates of six sample (baked beans, corn bran, roasted peanuts, cooked potatoes, white bread with reduced calories, and cooked white rice) were sent to 11 laboratories. The reproducibility relative standard deviations of the TDF values (without outliers) ranged from 3.46 to 27.6%. The repeatability standard deviations ranged from 0.91 to 14.6%.     

Study on original position statistic quantitative method for the content of Al in inclusions from steels

The inclusions of Al in steels have great influence on the properties and the quality of steels.But there are some difficulties on the content determination of Al inclusions with accuracy and rapidity.Conventional quantity analysis of stable inclusions is electrolysis method with the disadvantages of long analytical period,trivial operation and a little loss of some fine and instable oxides.The content of insoluble aluminum can be obtained by the subtraction between the content of total Al and acid soluble Al determined by chemical methods with the disadvantage of complicate procedure.Original position statistic distribution analysis(OPA) can be used for the determination of inclusions by collecting and discriminating the signals produced by single spark discharge in the way of no pre-sparking,scanning and emitting continuously.In this study the element of Al in some spectrum certified reference materials of carbon and medium or low-alloyed steels was analyzed by original opposition statistic distribution technique.Two quantitative mathematical models used by original position distribution analysis technology for the analysis of the content of Al inclusions have been investigated and been applied to the analysis of the content of Al inclusions in many kinds of spectrum certified reference materials and some medium and low-alloyed steel samples.The scope of application of the models and their limited conditions were discussed.It was found that the results calculated by OPA had great difference with the value by chemical method for some samples with the total content of Al above 0.2%.The reason is that some intensity of abnormal sparks have gone beyond the range of the largest intensity that can be determined by the instrument so that there is a certain deviation on the identification of abnormal sparks and the calculation of threshold value.It was found that the size distribution of Al inclusions had a great influence on the application of the two models.For most of certified reference materials for spectrum analysis and real steel samples the results of the content of Al in inclusions calculated by model 1 was satisfied and had good coincidence with the value of insoluble Al by chemical method. But for the samples with so many large inclusions of Al existed,the influence of intensity should be considered because the signal increase did not vary in the form of simple function.So model 2 was more suitable for the content calculation of Al in inclusions in this case.In order to choose suitable model to be used it is suggested that the size distribution of inclusions should be determined by OPA before content determination of Al in inclusions. The results of the content of Al inclusions calculated by the selected mathematical model were satisfied and had good coincidence with the value of insoluble Al obtained by the subtraction between the content of total Al and soluble Al determined by chemical methods when the content of total aluminum was below 0.2%.     

Physical and nutritional qualities of extruded weaning foods containing sorghum, pearl millet, or finger millet blended with mung beans and nonfat dried milk

Sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet flours (60% of each) were blended with toasted mung bean flour (30%) and nonfat dry milk (10%) and extruded (Brabender single screw) to make precooked, ready-to-eat, weaning foods. The extruded foods had high cold paste viscosity, but their cooked paste viscosity was lower than that of the respective blends. Chemical scores of the extruded foods were 78 for sorghum, 80 for pearl millet, and 96 for finger millet. Protein digestibility corrected amino acid scores (PD-CAS) were similar for pearl millet (68%) and finger millet (69%); PD-CAS for sorghum was 57%. Total dietary fiber content of the foods ranged from 7.6 to 10.1%, with the soluble dietary fiber content of the foods being about 10% higher than that of the corresponding blends. Extrusion enhanced the in vitro protein digestibility of foods, but no marked difference occurred in the in vitro carbohydrate digestibility among the unprocessed blends and the extruded foods. The net protein ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and biological values were higher for the finger millet food than for the pearl millet food, probably because of the higher lysine content of the finger millet protein.     

Viscosity and fermentability as attributes of dietary fiber responsible for the hypocholesterolemic effect in hamsters

The attribute(s) of soluble dietary fibers responsible for cholesterol lowering is currently uncertain. A series of experiments were conducted in which viscosity and fermentability was assessed independently for their effect on plasma and liver cholesterol concentration. Hamsters were divided into four dietary groups and fed diets containing 0.12% cholesterol and 5% fiber as high viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HV-HPMC group), low viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (LV-HPMC group), high viscosity guar gum (HV-GG group) or low viscosity guar gum (LV-GG group). Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is essentially nonfermentable, whereas guar gum is highly fermentable. Plasma cholesterol concentrations at 3, 6 and 11 wk and liver cholesterol concentrations at 6 and 11 wk were significantly lower in the HV-HPMC group relative to the LV-HPMC group (P < 0.05). Intestinal content viscosities of the LV-HPMC and HV-GG groups were similar; consequently, these two groups were compared to examine the independent effect of fermentation. Plasma and liver cholesterol were significantly lower in the HV-GG group compared with the LV-HPMC group at 6 wk (P < 0.05), but not at 3 or 11 wk. Hepatic sterol synthesis rates were not affected by any of the diets. This study shows that greater viscosity of intestinal contents is strongly associated with cholesterol reduction, but that the contribution of fiber fermentation remains uncertain.     

Aging stimulates fatty acid oxidation in rat colonocytes but does not influence the response to dietary fiber

Metabolism was studied in colonocytes isolated from young (4 mo) and aged (24 mo) Fischer 344 rats. Animals were fed fiber-free, low-fiber (5% cellulose), or high-fiber (oat bran or NIH 31 stock) diets. Colonocytes isolated from aged animals oxidized both short- and long-chain fatty acids at significantly higher rates than did colonocytes isolated from young animals. No differences between the young and aged were noted for the oxidation to CO2 of glucose and glutamine or for flux of glucose through glycolysis. Net adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by colonocytes was calculated to be 20% higher for the aged than for the young, although the relative contribution of substrates to net ATP production from exogenous substrates was similar for the young and aged (45-50% from butyrate, 20-25% from glucose, and 30% from other substrates including acetate, propionate, palmitate, and glutamine). Substrate oxidation was generally higher in colonocytes from the oat bran (17% total dietary fiber, highly soluble fiber) versus fiber-free diet.     

An in vitro method, based on chewing, to predict resistant starch content in foods allows parallel determination of potentially available starch and dietary fiber

The purpose of this work was to develop a method for measurement of the major forms of resistant starch (RS) in foods. The analytical procedure was chosen to mimic physiologic conditions, and included chewing as a prestep before incubation with pepsin, pancreatin and amyloglucosidase. The undigestible polysaccharides, including RS, were recovered by ethanol precipitation and subsequent filtration. RS was analyzed as total starch in the filter residue. The residues were also used for gravimetric determination of dietary fiber after correcting for remaining protein, ash and RS. The potentially available starch fraction was determined from analysis of glucose in the filtrate. The foods included were prepared to resemble products for which RS figures were available from in vivo measurements, and/or from analysis with other current in vitro methods. For six of these foods, and for three additional starchy materials, RS figures were compared with in vivo and/or in vitro data for identical products. The pooled standard deviation for the suggested RS method was 2.9%. A high correlation was obtained with in vivo figures from the literature for 19 realistic foods (r = 0.97; y = 0.77x + 0.45). After correction for RS, dietary fiber figures corresponded well with conventional gravimetric dietary fiber analysis for 14 starchy foods (r = 0.97). It is concluded that the procedure described here provides a convenient way to estimate RS content of realistic foods, allowing parallel determination of the potentially available starch fraction and dietary fiber.