EFFECT OF CYCLODEXTRINS AND UNDIGESTED STARCH ON THE LOSS OF CHENODEOXYCHOLATE IN THE FECES

Starch that escapes digestion in the small intestine increases the eli mination of chenodeoxycholate and its metabolites in the faeces of bot h mice and hamsters. In contrast, the elimination of cholate and its m etabolites is not increased. In vitro, the affinity of starch for chen odeoxycholate is about 90-fold greater than for cholate. beta-Cyclodex trin, which approximates to one turn of the helical structures formed by the 1,4-linked glucose units of starch, shares these properties. It is proposed that these helical structures in starch act as binding si tes for bile salts.