Journal of Nutrition

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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 121 No. 1 January 1991, pp. 44-49
Copyright © 1991 by American Society for Nutrition
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Physiological Effects of Retrograded, {alpha}-Amylase-Resistant Cornstarch in Rats1

J. M. Gee, R. M. Faulks and I. T. Johnson2

AFRC Institute of Food Research, Norwich Laboratory, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UA, United Kingdom

Retrograded amylose was prepared by gelatinization of high amylose comstarch, followed by storage at 1°C for 48 h. The insoluble residue, which resisted hydrolysis with porcine amylase, was dried and fed to male Wistar rats for 14 d in powdered semisynthetic diet. Control rats received a similar diet containing sucrose in place of resistant starch. Fecal collections were performed throughout the feeding period. After 14 d the animals were killed. The small intestine and cecum were removed for morphological examination, measurement of small intestinal crypt cell production rate (CCPR) and analysis of luminal carbohydrate content. Blood samples were collected for analysis of cholesterol, glucagon, and enteroglucagon. In the starch-fed rats, fecal bulk and excretion of starch were higher than in the controls, but they declined markedly over the feeding period. Cecal size and contents were also greater in the starch-fed rats, and cecal pH was significantly lower. The CCPR was 66% higher in the ileum of the starch-fed rats (P < 0.001), but there was no difference in the jejunum. There were no differences in serum cholesterol or enteroglucagon levels. We conclude that retrograded amylose is partially degraded in the alimentary tract of rats, but it contributes significantly to fecal bulk.

KEY WORDS: • resistant starch • carbohydrates • mucosal cytokinetics • cholesterol metabolism • rats

1 Pinancial support for this research was provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Pisheries and Food.

2 Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Manuscript received 7 March 1990. Revision accepted 29 June 1990.






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