EFFECT OF OAT HULL FIBER ON HUMAN COLONIC FUNCTION AND SERUM-LIPIDS

Oat hull fiber is an insoluble source of dietary fiber, derived from t he outermost layer of the oat grain. The effect of oat hull fiber on c olonic function and serum lipids was investigated by conducting a cont rolled study on IO healthy males, aged 20-37, who ate, for two three-w eek periods, a controlled low fiber diet (13.1 g of nonstarch polysacc haride [NSP]/day), and the same diet with 25 g of oat hull fiber per d ay incorporated into foods, providing 17 g of NSP/day. Fecal weight in creased from 113 +/- 10.4 to 155 +/- 10.8 g/day (P < 0.001) with no ch ange in transit time or serum lipids. Fermentation of oat hull fiber w as studied by analysis of feces for NSP. Excretion of NSP increased fr om 2.0 g/day excreted to 19.7 g/day, indicating that no degradation ha d occurred. Oat hull fiber is therefore resistant to fermentation in t he human colon, has no effect on serum lipids, and provides no energy to the body.