Effect of tartaric acid and dietary fibre from sun-dried raisins on colonic function and on bile acid and volatile fatty acid excretion in healthy adults

• Published in: British journal of nutrition 2003-10, Vol.90 (4), p.803-807
• Main Authors: Spiller, Gene A., Story, Jon A., Furumoto, Emily J., Chezem, Jo Carol, Spiller, Monica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Bile Acids and Salts - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Colon - drug effects; Colon - physiology; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; Dietary Fiber - pharmacology; Excretion; Faecal bile acids; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Volatile - analysis; Feces; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastrointestinal Transit - drug effects; Gastrointestinal Transit - physiology; Gastrointestinal transit time; Humans; Intestine. Mesentery; Lithocholic Acid - analysis; Male; Middle Aged; Risk reduction; Sun-dried raisins; Tartaric acid; Tartrates - administration & dosage; Tartrates - pharmacology; Vertebrates: digestive system; Vitis
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1079/BJN2003966

Sun-dried raisins are a source of dietary fibre and tartaric acid. The effects of tartaric acid on colon function have not been the focus of extensive research. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary fibre and tartaric acid from sun-dried raisins on colon function and on faecal bile acid and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) excretion in healthy adults. Thirteen healthy subjects were fed 120 g sun-dried raisins/d or 5 g cream of tartar (equivalent to the tartaric acid in 120 g sun-dried raisins)/d for 9 weeks, divided into 3-week cycles. The experimental diets were fed in a crossover design after an initial control period. Faeces were collected for the last 4 d of each cycle for analysis of SCFA and bile acids. Intestinal transit time decreased from 42h on the baseline diet to 31h on cream of tartar (P