Browsing by Subject "fiber"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 4 - Nutrient Composition
    (Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1973-04) Goodrich, R.D.; Linn, J.G.; Meiske, J.C.; Staba, E. John
    Samples of 22 freshwater aquatic plants were analyzed to determine their potential feeding value for ruminants. Proximate analyses (mean +/- SD), on a dry matter basis were: crude protein, 12.7+/-4. 4%; either extract, 1.46+/-.98%; crude fiber, 19.2+/-6.4%; ash, 2.05+/-1.24%; and NFE 64.6+/-6.5%. NDF, ADF, and ADL contents averaged 41.6+/-13.4%; 32.0+/-9.6% and 6.35+/-2.76%, respectively. Mineral contents (mean +/-SD) of the 22 aquatic plants were: P,o.25+/-0.19%; Ca, 1.83+/-1.68%; K, 1.54+/-.92%; Na, 0.30+/-.25%; mg, 0.31+/-.16%; Fe 924=?-730 ppm; Zn, 80.6+/-96.6 ppm; Cu, 13.8+/- 34.0 ppm; Mo, 19.7+/-9.7 ppm and Mn, 269+/-152 ppm. Van Soest's estimated apparent digestibility averaged 63.0+/-8.3%.
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    Effects of a novel fiber blend on human gut function
    (2013-09) Koecher, Katie
    Enteral nutrition (EN) or enteral tube feeding is an effective means of nutritional support for individuals who do not or cannot eat adequately. Patients restricted to EN frequently suffer from abnormal bowel function which affects their intestinal bacteria and impacts quality of life. Dietary fibers have a variety of physiological benefits; fibers that provide fecal bulk promote regular bowel movements while fermentable fibers are utilized by gut bacteria to produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and gas in the process. SCFAs positively influence gut health, gut transit time, and fecal moisture while gas may reduce the tolerance of fibers. Fortification of EN with a blend of fibers with various physicochemical properties more closely represents a normal diet, and may maximize physiological benefits. Moreover, using a blend of fibers with different rates of fermentation may minimize gas and bloating commonly associated with highly fermentable fibers. Batch in vitro systems allow fiber fermentation modeling without absorption and may help to estimate potential health benefits and gastrointestinal tolerance of fiber in vivo. Well controlled, blinded and randomized intervention human studies are the "gold standard" for human nutrition research. The primary aim of this project was to conduct a human clinical trial utilizing a fiber blend fortified EN product. The secondary aim was to relate the human study findings to the in vitro fermentation profiles of the fiber blend and its individual components. The objective of the human study was to compare the effects of a fiber blend fortified enteral formula (FB, 15 g/L), a fiber-free formula (FF) and habitual diet on bowel function, fecal bacteria and quality of life. The fiber blend consisted of a 50:50 insoluble:soluble ratio of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, gum acacia and outer pea hull fiber. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, 20 healthy subjects consumed both FF and FB for 14 days with a 4 week washout. Fecal samples were collected the last 5 days of each period and assessed for fecal output, whole gut transit time (WGTT), and major bacterial groups. Subject gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) and tolerance were also measured. On formula diets, 5-day fecal output decreased by more than 55% from habitual diet, but was 38% higher on FB than FF (p=0.0321). WGTT was approximately 1.5 times longer on formula diets than habitual diet (p<0.0004). Total bacteria declined from habitual diet on FF (p<0.004), but not on FB. Numbers of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli declined from habitual diet on both formula diets, but bifidobacteria was higher on FB compared to FF (p<0.0001). Bacteroides and clostridia numbers did not change between diets. GIQLI and incidence of gas symptoms did not differ between formulas. The objectives of the second project were to compare the in vitro fermentation profiles of FOS, inulin, gum acacia, and pea fiber alone or blended using a 24 h batch model and relate these finding to the human study results. For the in vivo measurements, stool samples were collected to measure pH and SCFA. Tolerance was also measured. The in vitro fermentation of the fiber blend resulted in a delayed pH decrease and gas and SCFA production compared to the FOS and inulin. Human samples had higher total SCFA on the fiber formula compared to the fiber free formula (p=0.029), and both formulas yielded lower SCFA than habitual diet (both p<0.0001). Mean fecal pH for both formulas was 7.5; higher than habitual diet pH 6.5 (p<0.0001). No differences in gas/bloating were found between any diet. By blending fibers, a slower fermentation was observed in vitro and was well tolerated in human subjects. Fiber addition to enteral formula increases fecal short chain fatty acids which may reflect increased fermentation.
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    The effects of yeast beta-glucan on diabetes, liver cholesterol and fatty liver in rodents.
    (2016-08) Feng, Fanqing
    This dissertation’s main focus is on how yeast beta-glucans affect: (1) the glycemic control of diabetes (fasting blood glucose, proportion of glycated hemoglobin and postprandial glycemic response) and (2) hepatic lipid accumulation and hepatic cholesterol concentration in chemically-induced diabetic rats. Further, in order to understand which characteristic of yeast beta-glucans might be responsible for the effects found, small intestinal contents viscosity was measured after a meal containing yeast beta-glucans and fermentation with the yeast beta-glucans. The results of this study indicates that yeast beta-glucans have no viscosity but some fermentability, does not improve glycemic control in diabetes but does reduce hepatic cholesterol. Thus, this dissertation implies that viscosity is likely the important characteristic of beta-glucans responsible for improving hyperglycemia in diabetes rather than fermentability.
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    EVALUATION OF ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE POSTBIOTIC ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, GUT MICROBIOME, AND METABOLOME IN GROWING PIGS FED HIGH FIBER DIETS
    (2022-03) Zhu, Jinlong
    Substantial amounts of low-cost, high fiber coproducts produced from various agro-industrial processes are incorporated into swine feed with the aim of reducing the cost and the environmental impacts of food animal production. Because dietary fiber (DF) is not well utilized by pigs, effective strategies are needed to improve the energy and nutrient utilization efficiency of using high fiber coproducts in swine diets. The objective of this thesis was to determine the potential of Aspergillus oryzae postbiotic (AOP) for improving nutrient digestibility of high fiber coproducts in growing pig diets and the underlying mechanisms. Results from the first and second experiments showed that the addition of 0.05% AOP to corn distillers dried grains with solubles, rice bran, or wheat middlings and diets containing these high fiber ingredients increased energy and nutrient digestibility in vivo and in vitro. The magnitude of the AOP response is ingredient- and diet-dependent, which suggested that the effectiveness of fiber-degrading feed additives is associated with DF type and composition of ingredients. Results from the third experiment suggested that dietary addition of AOP significantly altered the diversity and composition of the microbial community and metabolome in the ileal digesta and feces of growing pigs. Dietary addition of AOP alters the abundance of several bacteria that were significantly correlated with nutrient digestibility, including key players of the fiber-degrading bacteria. Overall, findings from this thesis provided the first evidence that AOP is effective in increasing the energy and nutritional value of swine diets containing different types of high fiber ingredients and new insights into mechanisms of action of AOP in pigs.