DIETARY-EFFECTS OF BARLEY FIBER, WHEAT BRAN AND RYE BRAN ON BILE COMPOSITION AND GALLSTONE FORMATION IN HAMSTERS

The effects of brewer's spent grain (BSG), wheat bran and rye bran on bile composition, gallstone formation and serum cholesterol were studied in Syrian golden hamsters. The frequency of gallstone formation in the animals fed diets supplemented with low (10%) and high (20%) concentrations of BSG or wheat bran was significantly lower than that of the animals fed a stone-provoking, fibre-free diet. The ratios of secondary to primary bile acids were lower in the animals fed the diets supplemented with a high dose of BSG, wheat bran and rye bran than in the controls. The ratio of LCA to DCA was reduced only in the animals fed the diet supplemented with rye bran as compared with controls. No significant changes in bile and serum cholesterol levels were observed in the experiment.