Effects of dietary fiber on pancreatic enzyme activities of ileostomy evacuates and on excretion of fat and nitrogen in the rat.

Ileostomized rats were fed diets with different fiber content. The addition of 5% pectin to the diet caused an increase in the wet weight, fat content, amylase activity per gram, and lipase output of the ileostomy evacuates. Twenty percent wheat bran in the diet increased weight, fat and nitrogen content, and trypsin output of the evacuates. In normal rats pectin added to a meal containing 3H-labeled triolein increased the isotope activity of the feces, indicating an impaired fat absorption. In rats operated on with occlusion of the pancreatic ducts with a tissue glue, the fat absorption was, however, not significantly affected by pectin. The results of the study show that fiber can cause a change in the intestinal enzymatic milieu of ileostomized rats and can cause steatorrhea, which can be explained, at least partly, by malabsorption.