Dietary Fiber-Like Effects of Orally Administered Cyclodextrins in the Rat

Molecular difference of physiological effects of cyclodextrins (CD) was compared with those of dietary fiber in the rat. Animals were fed diets containing either 5 or 10% of CD supplemented with 1% cholesterol, α CD as well as pectin prevented diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, whereas β CD increased the weight of small intestine. Modified CD, maltosyl-α, maltosyl-β and hydroxypropyl-β, showed similar effects observed in their parent CD. Dietary fiber-like effects of α and β CD might be related to their characteristics of digestibility, being highly indigestible and highly fermentable, respectively.