• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.802-807
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• 2002

This study was conducted to see effects of dietary bacterial fiber produced by Gluconoucetobacter hansenii on gross structure, and disaccharidase activities of small intestine and body lipid status in rats. Bacterial fiber was prepared by drying and alkali treatment of floating membrane produced IS days after the bacterial culture using coconut juice media. Male Sprague-Dawely rats of 320+10 g were grouped into three and fed 0.5% (w/w) cholesterol diets with three different dietary fibers, i .e. cellulose, and pectin and bacterial fiber, at the level of 2% (w/w). During four-week experimental period, food intakes and body weight gains were not different among three groups. Total lengths and jejunal fragment weights of small intestine did not differ among the three groups but cecal weight was higher in bacterial fiber groups than those of the other two groups. Colon content and fecal dry weight were lower in bacterial fiber group. Sucrase activity of the jejunal mucosa was lower in bacterial fiber group but maltase activity was not different from those of the other two groups. Plasma total cholesterol level was lower and that of HDL-cholesterol higher in pectin group than those of cellulose and bacterial fiber groups, the latter of which did not differ. Both in plasma and liver triglyceride levels were lower in bacterial fiber group than cellulose and pectin groups, and liver cholesterol level was lower in pectin group. Relative liver weights and Plasma activities of GOT md GPT were not different among three groups. It is concluded that bacterial fiber used in the present study had hypotriglyceridemic effect that help improve lipid status in the body.