Potato peelings have nutritional value as a source of dietary fiber. P
eels were extrusion-cooked at 104 or 143 degrees C with feed moistures
of 31, 33.5, or 36%. An in vitro digestion procedure was developed to
measure binding of bile acids to peels and other materials. Peels bou
nd more deoxycholic than cholic acid, and extruded peels bound more of
each acid than did nonextruded peels. Extrusion resulted in greater g
lycocholic acid binding, but there was no difference in taurocholic ac
id binding by extruded or nonextruded peels. Bile acid binding by chol
esterol, pectin, and cellulose was similar to levels reported using ra
dioassays. Deoxycholic acid binding was correlated with total and inso
luble dietary fiber and with iron content.