Effects of various brans on energy intake and glucose metabolism in alloxan diabetic rats

The purpose of the present study was, firstly, to determine whether untreated rye bran and untreated wheat bran differ in their ability to affect energy intake and glucose metabolism in alloxan diabetic rats; and secondly, to find out whether wheat brans processed by extrusion-cooking or acid-treatment differ in this respect. A low-fiber high-starch diet was used as reference. There was a positive correlation between energy intake and urinary glucose excretion. No correlation between these parameters and weight increase was found. The mean urinary glucose excretion was lowest in the animals fed untreated rye bran (68 +/- 3 mmoles/24 h). No difference in urinary glucose excretion was found in the three different wheat bran groups (range of means: 102 +/- 10 - 105 +/- 7 mmoles/24 h). The highest urinary glucose excretion was found in the group fed the low-fiber high-starch diet (160 +/- 12 mmoles/24 h). It is thus concluded that untreated rye bran lowered urine glucose more than did untreated wheat bran, and that extrusion-cooking or acid-treatment did not change the urine glucose lowering effect of wheat bran.