| dc.description.abstract | The effects of sorghum and millet bran on blood and liver cholesterol levels and colonic physiology were examined using 110 male Sprague-Dawley rats. A white sorghum (low tannin), a brown sorghum (high tannin) and a pearl millet were decorticated at the 8% level and the bran fractions were analyzed for insoluble, soluble and total dietary fiber. A basal fiber-free diet containing cholesterol and cholic acid to induce hypercholesterolemia was uniformly diluted with the following fiber supplements to achieve 6% TDF by weight: cellulose, pectin, wheat bran, oat bran, American blend, white sorghum bran, brown sorghum bran and millet bran. After 21 days on the diets, the animals were sacrificed and the following measurements were taken: serum and liver cholesterol, cecal surface area, colonic pH, and dry fecal weight. Serum cholesterol values of brown sorghum and white sorghum brans were not significantly different from cellulose or wheat bran. The millet bran resulted in significantly lower serum cholesterol levels comparable to pectin. The American blend resulted in the lowest cholesterol level of any diet. Liver cholesterol values resulted in a similar pattern, the sorghum, millet and wheat brans having significantly (p <.05) higher values than the American blend, pectin and oat bran. In the colon, the sorghum and millet were excellent bulking agents, did not increase cecal surface area or decrease pH and thus had a positive effect. The presence of tannins in the brown sorghum seem to have a positive effect as the brown sorghum bran had the heaviest fecal dry weight, smallest cecal surface area and shortest gut length. The American blend was not an effective bulking agent and increased cecal surface area. Therefore the American blend lowered cholesterol levels significantly but did not have a positive influence in the colon. It may be concluded that sorghum brans have potential to be used as bulking agents however they do not lower cholesterol. Millet bran may be capable of lowering cholesterol and exerting a positive effect on the colon but confirmation of these results is needed. | en |
