Dietary fiber-mediated protection of amaranth (Food & C Red No. 2, Am) toxicity was examined in young male rats for a period of 12 weeks. The dietary fiber source was prepared from roots of beet (BDF). Three kinds of diets were used: a 25% casein-sucrose basal diet (CS diet), the basal diet plus 5% Am (CSA diet), and the basal diet plus 5% Am plus 5% BDF (CSAB diet). The initial growth of rats fed the CSA diet during the first week was slow, and then increased rapidly up to week 3. After that, however, their growth followed by an increase at decreasing rate until week 12. The growth curve of rats fed the CSAB diet was very similar to that of rats fed the CS diet. The final body weights of rats fed CS, CSA and CSAB diets were 481±9.9, 357±12.0 and 463±14.7g, respectively. The food efficiency in rats fed the CSA diet was also significantly lower than that in rats fed the CS or CSAB diet; although the food intake for 12 weeks was not significantly different among the three groups. Therefore, the growth retardation in the CSA diet-fed group may be due mainly to decreased food efficiency, while the antiAm activity of BDF in the CSAB diet-fed group would have improved nutrient utilization. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in CS diet-fed rats gradually increased with time, while their concentrations in rats fed the CSA diet decreased significantly. These lipid concentrations in rats fed the CSAB diet were relatively constant. The changes in nutrient utilization probably depends on the toxicity levels of Am and the anti-Am activity of BDF.
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