In vitro binding of bile acids by rice bran, oat bran, wheat bran, and corn bran

The in vitro bile acid binding by rice, oat, wheat, and corn brans was dete rmined using a mixture of bile acids normally secreted in human bile at a p hysiological pH of 6.3. The objective of the study was to relate bile acid binding of cereal brans to health promoting properties. Three experiments w ere conducted testing substrates on an equal weight (dry matter) basis, an equal total dietary fiber (TDF) basis, and an equal TDF and equal fat basis . Each experiment was repeated to validate the results (for a total of six experiments). The relative in vitro bile acid binding of the cereal brans o n an equal TDF basis considering cholestyramine as 100% bound was rice bran 51%, wheat bran 31%, oat bran 26% and corn bran 5%. The data suggest that cholesterol lowering by rice bran appears to be related to bile acid bindin g. The primary mechanism of cholesterol lowering by oat bran may not be due to bile acid binding by soluble fiber. Bile acid binding did not appear to be proportional to the soluble fiber content of the cereal brans tested. B ile acid binding by wheat bran may contribute to cancer prevention and othe r healthful properties.