| Many researchers have reported that luminacoids affect the absorption of nutrients and secretions such as bile acids. We clarified that: (1) contrary to the general hypothesis, onion dietary fiber, wheat bran, and powdered polystyrene foam increased the bioavailability of ferrous iron in rats, and (2) high-amylose cornstarch decreased serum cholesterol concentration in rats, with or without a cecum as the fermenter. This effect indicated that an increase in fecal bile acid excretion occurred in cecectomized rats, whereas it did not in normal rats despite increased secretion of bile acids. In this review we describe the effect of luminacoids on mineral absorption and serum cholesterol lowering effect via a mechanism related to reabsorption of bile acids. This mechanism included the effects described in (1) and (2) above. In addition, we found that: (3) beet dietary fiber decreased energy intake although there was no clear relevance of this effect to the absorption of nutrients and secretions. We have therefore carried out further investigations on this mechanism. The current review also examines the effects of luminacoids on energy intake regulation based on our finding (3) above. |
