Apparent digestibility and glycaemic responses to an experimental induced viscosity dietary fibre incorporated into an enteral formula fed to dogs cannulated in the ileum

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apparent digestibility and po stprandial glycaemic responses of ileal-cannulated dogs when fed an experim ental induced viscosity dietary fibre (IVF) incorporated into a liquid ente ral formula. Dietary treatments were: (1) control; (2) Glucerna(R)dagger; ( 3) Glytrol(R)dagger; (4) IVF; and (5) Jevity(R)dagger. Diets varied in conc entrations of crude protein (CP), fat, starch and total dietary fibre (TDF) . Dry matter and starch intakes by dogs fed the Glucerna(R) and Glytrol(R) treatments were lower (P < 0.05) than for those consuming the other diets. However, daily intakes of CP and fat followed a reverse trend. Digestibilit y of nutrients at the ileum was high (>80%) for all dietary treatments. Min eral absorption proximal to the ileum and from the total tract was not sign ificantly different among treatments. Mean incremental area under the serum glucose response curves for dogs fed Glytrol(R), Glucerna(R), and IVF trea tments were lower (P < 0.05) than the control treatment. Induced viscosity fibre appears to have no negative effects on nutrient digestion throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Its ability to moderate serum glucose concentra tions would make it a potentially good choice for a diabetic liquid formula , (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Lid. All rights reserved.