Abstract
Guar gum partially decomposed by galactomannanase (PDGG) showed extremely low viscosity in comparison with untreated guar gum (GG). The dietary fiber (DF) content of PDGG was 83.5%, and that of GG was 83.0%, as measured by the Prosky method. The effect of PDGG was compared with that of GG in rats fed hypercholesterolemic diets containing either PDGG or GG at 5% for 21 days. PDGG suppressed the elevation of plasma cholesterol (Chol) and triglyceride (TG) levels. GG suppressed the elevation of Chol and TG in plasma and liver. Effects of PDGG and GG were examined in rats fed non-DF diets containing either PDGG or GG at the 5% for 18 days. Both PDGG and GG increased the degree of fecal moisture and the amount of feces excreted during an 18-h period. From these results, it was suggested that PDGG retained the ability to lower the plasma Chol level and increase the amount of feces, even though its viscosity was much lower than that of GG.
