QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Forman, L. P. Articles by Schneeman, B. O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Forman, L. P. Articles by Schneeman, B. O.

Dietary Pectin's Effect on Starch Utilization in Rats¹

Department of Nutrition University of California Davis, CA 95616

Dietary pectin's effects on intestinal ¹⁴C-starch absorption, oxidation to ¹⁴CO₂ and intestinal weight were studied. Rats were adapted to either a 5% pectin diet or a control diet for 10 or more days before test meals of the same composition but containing ¹⁴C-starch were fed. One hour after the test meal, more ¹⁴C label remained in the stomach as well as the entire gastrointestinal tract of pectin-fed rats. Also, less ¹⁴C had reached the distal quarter of the small intestine at one hour. Rats eating the 5% pectin diet had higher wet and dry weights of the small intestine. A separate group of pectin-fed rats exhaled more ¹⁴CO₂ than controls during the first hour after the test meal. Amount of ¹⁴C in the gastrointestinal tract and exhalation of ¹⁴CO₂ did not differ between diet groups at 2, 3, or 4 hours after the test meal. Results indicate that dietary pectin caused a decrease in starch absorption during the first hour after the meal and it led to an increase in small intestinal weight. Dietary pectin also resulted in a higher percentage of ingested ¹⁴C appearing as ¹⁴CO₂ during the first hour after the test meal.

KEY WORDS: • pectin • starch • digestion • carbohydrate • dietary fiber

¹ Supported in part by NIH grant AM20446 and Nutrition Foundation grant 542.

² Current address is Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Dewey Avenue, Omaha, NE 63105.

³ To whom reprint request should be sent.

Manuscript received 1 June 1981.