Long term effects of dietary fibre in bread on weight, blood glucose, glucosuria and faecal fat excretion in alloxan diabetic rats.

A comparative study of the long term effects of high and low fibre diets on weight, blood glucose levels, urine glucose excretion and faecal fat excretion was carried out on alloxan diabetic rats and controls rats. The experimental diet consisted of bread and milk. The high fibre bread was made from bran enriched whole rye meal and the low fibre bread from refined rye meal. All rats received the diets for six weeks. Diabetic rats on high or low fibre diets had essentially the same intake of other nutrients. The weight loss was less in the diabetic animals on the high fibre bread than on the low fibre bread. The control animals on the high fibre diet had slightly lower body weights and lower blood glucose levels than those on the low fibre diet. In diabetic rats the blood glucose levels were lower on the high fibre diet than on the low fibre diet. The urinary glucose excretion in diabetic rats decreased immediately after the start of the high fibre diet, while it increased in the rats on the low fibre diet. Faecal fat content in relation to fat intake was greater in the animals on high fibre diet than in those on low fibre diet.