We examined the effects of polystyrene foam (PSF), fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and beet dietary fiber (BDF) on luminal mucin secretions. Rats were fed a control diet or a diet containing either 5％ PSF, 5％ FOS, or 10％ BDF for 16 days. Small intestinal mucins and ileal goblet cell numbers increased in rats fed PSF and BDF. Goblet cell numbers correlated with ileal Muc2 gene expression. Cecal mucins were greater in rats fed FOS and BDF compared with the control diet, but cecal goblet cell numbers were comparable among the groups, while Muc2 expression was only increased in rats fed BDF. Fecal mucinase activity tended to be lower in rats fed FOS compared with the control diet. Our results suggest bulk-forming luminacoids increase small intestinal mucins by increasing the number of goblet cells, while fermentable luminacoids increase cecal mucins mainly through enhanced mucin synthesis within goblet cells. Furthermore, the luminacoids used in the present study have a different affect on the sialo- and sulfo-mucin distribution in the intestinal tissues.