EFFECT OF DIETARY FIBER ON FECAL EXCRETIO N OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS IN RATS

The effect of dietary fibers on the liver distribution and fecal excre tion of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) congeners in the cau sal rice-bran oil of Yusho was examined in male rats. The fibers used were rice-bran fiber, spinach fiber, burdock fiber, cabbage fiber, soy bean fiber, Japanese-radish (root) fiber, carrot fiber, corn fiber, Ja panese-radish (leaves) fiber, Chinese cabbage fiber, azuki bean fiber and barley fiber. The animals were administered 4 g of each diet conta ining 0.5 ml of the rice-bran oil and kept on the same fiber for anoth er 5 d. The oil was contaminated with 1,2,3,7,8-P5CDD (6.86 ng/ml), 1, 2,3,6,7,8-H6CDD (31.4 ng/ml), 1,2,3,7,8,9-H6CDD (22.4 ng/ml) and 1,2,3 ,4,6,7,8-H7CDD (121.7 ng/ml), The fecal excretion of 1,2,3,7,8-P5CDD i n the group fed with rice-bran and spinach fibers were promoted 3.3 an d 3.1 times, respectively, than that in the group fed with a non-fiber diet. The excretion of 1,2,3,6,7,8-H6CDD, 1,2,3,7,8,9-H6CDD and 1,2,3 ,4,6,7,8-H7CDD were 2.1, 1.9 and 1.6 times higher, respectively, in th e groups fed with rice-bran and spinach fibers than that in the group fed with the non-fiber diet. The present results suggest that the diet ary fibers are useful agents for the treatment of patients exposed to the lipophilic contaminants.