Binding of bile salts to fibre-enriched wheat fibre

Abstract

A commercial product of fibre-enriched wheat fibre (Fiberform^R) was tested for its binding of bile salts in vitro. The wheat fibre preparation was standardized and through enzymatic digestion of protein and starch contained 78 per cent fibre (w/w). Fibre-enriched wheat fibre bound with high capacity both conjugated and unconjugated bile salts. Binding was saturable, reversible and showed no specificity towards tauro-or glycine-conjugated bile salts. Binding was rapid, dependent on pH, was enhanced by the presence of high salt concentrations and partially inhibited by 6 M urea. This indicated that binding was a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions.