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The influence of wheat bran and pectin on the distribution of water in rat caecal contents and faeces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Elizabeth F. Armstrong ,
Martin A. Eastwood  and
W. Gordon Brydon
Elizabeth F. Armstrong
Affiliation:
Gastrointestinal Unit, University Department of Medicine, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU
Martin A. Eastwood
Affiliation:
Gastrointestinal Unit, University Department of Medicine, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU
W. Gordon Brydon
Affiliation:
Gastrointestinal Unit, University Department of Medicine, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU
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Abstract

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Wheat bran and pectin (100 g/kg) were added to a basal diet and fed to rats. An in vitro dialysis technique was used to measure the distribution of caecal and faecal water between the bound, i.e. that held by bacteria and undigested macromolecules, and free water. Bran increased wet (67%) and dry (74%) faecal weight. Pectin increased wet faecal weight (59 %), but did not influence dry weight. In faeces both bran and pectin increased the amount of total and bound water, but only pectin increased total and bound water when expressed on a dry weight basis. Caecal wet (90%) and dry (67%) weights increased with pectin but not with bran. Bran did not change total water but increased bound water whereas pectin increased both. This suggests that water contributed more to the increase in stool bulk in the pectin- supplemented animals due to free and bound water associated with both increased numbers of bacteria and residual pectin. Pectin altered the distribution of water in faeces. Bran has no effect on water distribution and is only partly fermented. The residual water-holding capacity leads to an increased wet and dry stool output.

Keywords

Dietary fibreCaecal waterFaecal waterRat
Type
Effects of Polysaccharides in the Colon
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 69 , Issue 3 , May 1993 , pp. 913 - 920
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1993

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