Effects of inulin supplemented to cellulose-free or cellulose-rich diets on caecal environment and biochemical blood parameters in rats

Abstract

The effects of feeding soluble dietary fibre (inulin, I) separately or in combination with insoluble fibre (cellulose, CEL) on caecal fermentation and biochemical blood parameters were studied in rats. Four diets: CEL-rich (10%) and CEL-free, each supplemented with 5% of sucrose or I (CR, CF, CRI and CFI diets, respectively) were fed over 4 weeks, each to 10 male growing Wistar rats. Supplementation with I caused the increase of the mass of caecal tissue and digesta (only on CF diet, interaction at P