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 Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hummel, F. C. Articles by Macy, I. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hummel, F. C. Articles by Macy, I. G.

Disappearance of Cellulose and Hemicellulose from the Digestive Tracts of Children¹

One Figure

Research Laboratory, Children's Fund of Michigan, in cooperation with The Methodist Children's Village, Detroit

Eighteen children, ages 4 to 12 years, were observed for from 30 to 225 successive days, during which they consumed uniform diets of known nutritive quality. With an average daily intake per child of 4 to 6 gm. of cellulose plus hemicellulose (138 to 248 mg. per kilogram of body weight) there was satisfactory bowel elimination and all children enjoyed buoyant health throughout the studies.

The average daily fecal excretion of cellulose and hemicellulose for 2455 days ranged from 0.03 to 2.26 gm. (1.5 to 97.4% of the intake) and 0.36 to 2.24 gm. (17.1 to 83.4% of intake), respectively. From 2.6 to 98.5% of the cellulose intake and 16.6 to 82.9% of the hemicellulose were digested by intestinal organisms during passage through the alimentary canal.

From the observations recorded in this study a roughage intake of 5 to 7 gm. of fiber per day, or 168 to 331 mg. per kilogram of body weight per day, provided adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates for normal laxation and all other known physiologic processes of normal children, and there was no evidence of any untoward effects upon the absorption of nitrogen and the mineral elements.

Manuscript received 7 August 1942.