Abstract
The effects of dietary fibers on the gastrointestinal absorption of cadmium were studied. The fibers, such as lignin, cellulose, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC), produced a slight decrease in the contents of cadmium in the tissues of rats following a single oral administration of cadmium. In addition, in rats fed continuously with the experimental diets containing cadmium together with fibers, lignin and Na CMC significantly decreased the contents of cadmium in the tissues. These results show that the fibers depressed the intestinal absorption of cadmium. It is suggested that the inhibitory effects of these fibers on the gastrointestinal absorption of cadmium were due to their intrinsic properties, such as ability to bind cadmium and effect on viscosity, and that the differences of inhibitory effects of the fibers on the intestinal absorption of cadmium were related to differences in such physical properties.
