Protective effects of cholestyramine in rats fed a low-fiber diet containing toxic doses of sodium cyclamate or amaranth.

Immature male rats were fed a purified, low-fiber diet containing massive doses of sodium cyclamate or amaranth (FD and C Red No. 2). Sodium cyclamate when incorporated at a 5% level in the purified, low-fiber diet resulted in toxic manifestations which were counteracted by the concurrent administration of the anion exchange resin cholestyramine at a 2 1/2% level in the diet. Other anion exchange resins were also active in this regard. Cholestyramine at a 2 1/2% level of supplementation was also active in counteracting the toxic effects induced by amaranth when the latter was incorporated at a 5% level in the purified, low-fiber diet.