Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of proteins on diarrhea. Soybean protein and the resultant, high molecular weight fraction (HF) obtained after pancreatin digestion, were fed to enterectomized rat as enteral liquid diets. After resecting the small intestine, a catheter was placed into the duodenum for 5 days postoperative enteral feeding. In the first experiment, the rats were divided into three groups and fed on either a soybean protein-based diet (SP), a casein-based diet (CA), or a 1: 2 soybean protein: casein mixture (MX). The incidence of diarrhea in the SP and MX groups was significantly lower than that of the CA group. In the second experiment, the rats fed on CA supplemented with HF were compared with those in groups CA and SP. The incidence of diarrhea in this group was significantly lower than that of the CA group and similar to that of the SP group. These results indicate that soybean protein and HF may reduce diarrhea caused by enteral feeding after surgical operation of the rat dig stive tract.
