Effect of Corn Fiber on Fecal Flora, Properties of Feces, β-Glucuronidase, and Levels of Serum Lipid in Healthy Men

Abstract

The effects of corn fiber intake (6 and 12 g/day for 10 days) on the fecal weight, moisture, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), pH, microflora and β-glucuronidase activity, and on the serum tipids were investigated in five healthy men. Fecal weight and NDF increased depending on the fiber dose, whereas fecal moisture decreased. No remarkable change in fecal microflora was observed. Fecal β-glucuronidase activities (per gram of wet feces and daily output) were dose-dependently decreased by corn fiber intake. The levels of serum lipids did not change. These results show that corn fiber intake yielded an increase of fecal weight and a reduction of fecal β-glucuronidase activity.