Effects of rye bran, oat bran and soya-bean fibre on bile composition, gallstone formation, gall-bladder morphology and serum cholesterol in Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).

The effects of rye bran, oat bran and soya-bean fibre on serum lipids, bile composition and gallstone formation were studied in male Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). The control groups received fibre-free stone-provoking (O1 diet) or non-stone-provoking (O2 diet) diets. The serum cholesterol levels were lower for all groups fed on the diets supplemented with the dietary fibre sources compared with the control groups. The total content of bile acids in bile was higher in groups given rye-bran diets compared with the corresponding controls. The proportion of cholic acid was higher and that of chenodeoxycholic and lithocholic acid lower in the groups given rye-bran-, oat-bran- or soya-bean-fibre-supplemented diets, compared with the corresponding controls. The secondary:primary bile acid ratio was lower in the group given the rye-bran-supplemented O1 diet. The lithocholic:deoxycholic acid ratio was lower in the groups given rye-bran-, oat-bran- or soya-bean-fibre-supplemented diets than in the corresponding controls. A lower frequency of gallstones was observed only for the group receiving the rye-bran-supplemented O1 diet while the lithogenic index was lower in the groups given the rye-bran-supplemented O2 diet. A decreased epithelial volume density of the gall-bladder and an increased smooth muscular volume density were observed in animals given oat-bran- and rye-bran-supplemented O1 diets, whereas for the soya-bean-fibre-supplemented O1 diet, only the smooth muscular volume density was increased.