Effects of Different Fractions of Barley Bran on Gastrointestinal Function and Lipid Metabolism in Rats

To evaluate the effects of two different fractions of barley bran on gastrointestinal function and lipid metabolism, five weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing cellulose powder (control), wheat bran (WB), outer layer of barley bran (BB-30) and inner layer of barley bran (BB-60) at 5% dietary fiber level for 4 wks. An increase of cecal weight, a lowered pH of cecal contents and a shortening of gastrointestinal transit time in the BB-60 group were significant in comparison with those in the other three groups, respectively. Fecal moisture and butyric acid production in cecal contents of the BB-60 group were significantly higher than those of the BB-30 group. The hepatic cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations in the bran-fed groups were significantly higher or higher tendency than those in the control group. These results suggest that BB-60 is different from BB-30 and rather similar to WB on some aspects of gastrointestinal functions, and this phenomenon may be attributed to the difference of dietary fiber composition.