Physiological Effects Of The Dietary Fibre Component Konjac-G Lucomannan In Rats And Baboons

Summary

Some physiological effects of the gel-forming dietary fibre component, konjac-glucomannan(K-GM), were investigated under controlled conditions in rats and baboons. The results showed that a 1.5 per cent K-GM solution has a viscosity comparable to that of 10 per cent and 5 per cent solutions of 150 grade and 250 grade apple pectin . A 5 per cent inclu sion of K-GM in the diets of the rats andbaboons significantly lowered total serum cholesterol concentrations withoutlowering HDL-choleste rol levels. Liver cholesterol and total lipids were alsosignificantly decreased in the rats. The nutritional status of the rats, as measuredagainst serum albumin concentrations, was not adversely affected by a 10 percent inclusion of K-GM in the diet. There were indications that K-GM hadpossible beneficial effects on some blood clotting factors in baboons, that ithad an antitoxic effect against cholic acid in rats and that it did not cause constipationin eith er the baboons or rats. The examination of the effects of alongterm ingestion of K-GM as well as an investigation of its observed inhibitoryeffect on growth is recommended.