The effect of dietary fibre on transit time in rats

Abstract

A study was carried out on the effect of dietary fibre of some high fibre containing Nigerian foods on transit time in rats. Rats were used as human model. Dietary fibre from coconut (Cocus nucifera), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), pumpkin leaf (Telfaria occidentalis) and ‘Afang' (Gnetum africanus), were extracted and fed to albino Wistar strain rats. The result showed pumpkin leaf fibre (Telfaria occidentalis) having the greatest transit time of 91 ± 1.4% followed by coconut fibre (cocus nucifera) with a transit time of 86 ± 5.6% and cowpea fibre (Vigna unguiculata), 81 ± 3.5%. The transit time of ‘Afang'(Gnetum africanus) was least (74 ± 5.6%).

Keywords: Dietary fibre, Transit time.

AJAZEB Vol. 7 2005: pp. 45-47