EFFECT OF LIQUID DIETS WITH OR WITHOUT PARTIALLY HYDROLYZED GUAR GUM ON INTESTINAL MICROBIAL-FLORA AND FUNCTION OF RATS

The effect of liquid diets with or without partially hydrolyzed guar g um (a water-soluble dietary fiber, PHGG) on intestinal function and mi croflora of rats was investigated. Male Wistar rats, allocated into fi ve groups: standard rats chow (MF) ad libitum, low-residue diets (LRD) and elemental diet (ED) with or without 1.5% (W/V) PHGG at the dose o f 60-70 kcal daily for 2 weeks. The atrophy of terminal ileum villi wa s detected in LRD and ED groups. Supplementation with PHGG, however, i mproved the observed atrophy of terminal ileum(p < 0.05). The specific activity of diamine oxidase and alkaline phosphatase in mucosal scrap ings was significantly lower in the lower ileum of rats in LRD and ED groups than those in MF group. Those activities bf rats supplemented w ith PHGG, however, significantly increased. The cell number of Bifidob acterium and Lactobacillus per one gram cecal content remarkably decre ased in LRD or ED groups, but there was no change in those of rats in LRD+ and ED+PHGG groups compared with MF group. The results of this st udy suggest that the addition of PHGG to liquid diet improves the gast rointestinal tolerance and bowel control in long-term enterally fed pa tients.