The effect of cellulose supplementation of diets on gastrointestinal tract function of humans

Abstract The objective was to determine the cellulase activity of the gastrointestinal tract and the effect of cellulose supplementation of a nutritionally complete diet on cellulose digestion in human adults. All the subjects were given ordinary, low fibre and high fibre (3 × 12g wheat bran/subject/day) controlled diets. The cellulose digestion and the cellulose activity of the samples taken of the stomach and small intestine contents were found to be significant. Blood sugar content also tended to increase when dietary fibre was administered to the patients. No correlations have been found between the age or sex of patients and cellulase activity; however, higher values were found for male patients. The quantities of sugars released from dietary fibre can be relevant in the case of diabetes mellitus .