Adsorption of Bile Acids by Components of Alfalfa and Wheat Bran in Vitro

Abstract

ABSTRACT Adsorption of 2.5 mM and 5.0 mM cholic acid and deoxycholic acid by plant materials high in dietary fiber (alfalfa and wheat bran) and fractions derived from sequential extraction of plant material to remove various components was measured. Results tend to support the hydrophobic nature of adsorption and indicate a lack of macromolecular interactions between dietary fiber and bile acid micelles. Lignin appears to be an extremely important component in the interaction of dietary fiber with bile acids, but holocellulose also plays a significant role. Fractionation of dietary fiber sources may provide a method for study of the effects of specific components of dietary fiber which avoids some of the harsh isolaprocedures.