Effects of Fiber-Containing Liquid Diets on Colonic Structure and Function in the Rat

ABSTRACT. Dietary fiber plays a role in maintaining colonic structure and function. Recently, fiber-supplemented liquid diets containing primarily soy polysaccharide have been mar-keted. However, the effects of these diets on the colon, partic-ularly absorptive function, are not well documented. We com-pared Jevity (containing 1.4 % soy polysaccharide) to fiber-free Osmolite. In addition, we were interested in comparing the effects of soy polysaccharide to that of pectin, which has previously been shown to facilitate adaptation. A 1 % pectin-supplemented rat liquid diet was compared to the liquid diet alone. After 2 weeks of dietary treatment, rats were anesthe-tized and i vivo colonic absorption measured. Both Jevity and the pectin-containing diets led to a significantly greater (p < 0.01) basal and butyrate stimulated water absorption as well as 20 mM butyrate absorption compared to their fiber-free fe