Effect of liquid diets with or without partially hydrolyzed guar gum on intestinal microbial flora and function of rats

Abstract The effect of liquid diets with or without partially hydrolyzed guar gum (a water-soluble dietary fiber, PHGG) on intestinal function and microflora of rats was investigated. Male Wistar rats, allocated into five groups: standard rats chow (MF) ad libitum , low-residue diets (LRD) and elemental diet (ED) with or without 1.5% (W/V) PHGG at the dose of 60–70 kcal daily for 2 weeks. The atrophy of terminal ileum villi was detected in LRD and ED groups. Supplementation with PHGG, however, improved the observed atrophy of terminal ileum(p Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus per one gram cecal content remarkably decreased in LRD or ED groups, but there was no change in those of rats in LRD+ and ED+PHGG groups compared with MF group. The results of this study suggest that the addition of PHGG to liquid diet improves the gastrointestinal tolerance and bowel control in long-term enterally fed patients.