EFFECT OF PSYLLIUM ON PLASMA-CONCENTRATION OF GLUCOSE, BREATH HYDROGEN CONCENTRATION, AND FECAL COMPOSITION IN CALVES WITH DIARRHEA TREATEDORALLY WITH ELECTROLYTE-SOLUTIONS

We investigated the effect of adding psyllium to a standard electrolyt e solution in 10 calves with diarrhea. The calves were tested with the standard solution on one day and standard solution plus psyllium on t he alternate day. The order of treatments was randomized. Psyllium con verted the solution into mucilage, but did not affect fecal consistenc y. Mean +/- SEM area under the glucose absorption curve was lower for mucilaginous than for nonmucilaginous solutions, 2.1 +/- 0.62 vs 3.75 +/- 1.18 mmol.h, respectively, but the difference was not significant. The area under the breath hydrogen curve was marginally lower for muc ilaginous than nonmucilaginous solutions, 102 +/- 20 and 209 +/- 60 pp m.h, respectively. The usefulness of such decreased bacterial fermenta tion is doubtful.