Abstract
With the aim of developing useful health foods, an investigation was conducted on the effects on defecation of foods including shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) as the main material. A mixture (SK-204) consisting of dried shiitake treated by wet-heating and fructo-oligosaccharides in a proportion of 7: 3 was prepared. When SK-204 was administered to rats, the water content of their feces was increased to 70% from 63% before administration, and softening of the feces was observed in half of the rats; however, no diarrhea was evident. From this result, it is suggested that SK-204 could be available as a potentially promising health food for regulation of defecation.
