2003 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 17-22
The effects of ingestion of prune dietary fiber (PF) on cecal fermentation and fecal output were examined in rats. The rats were fed either a control diet containing 3% cellulose powder (CP) or another diet containing an additional 5% dietary fiber (DF) (PF, apple fiber (AF), or CP+pectin) for 4 weeks. The DF-added groups produced significantly more short-chain fatty acids in the cecum and showed lower pH values of the cecal contents, although not to a significant degree. In addition, the DF-added groups showed a significantly increased fecal output and the PF group had a significantly higher fecal water content. These observations might provide an explanation for the laxative effect of prunes.
