Influence of dietary fiber on exocrine pancreatic function in the rat

Dietary fiber inhibits pancreatic enzyme activity--i.e., trypsin, lipase and amylase--in buffer solutions and in human duodenal juice in vitro. It is well established that oral administration of trypsin inhibitor stimulates the secretion and growth of the rat pancreas. In the present study, trypsin inhibitor (Trasylol) as well as dietary fiber such as pectin of low (37%) methoxylic esterification and wheat bran were found to stimulate pancreatic enzyme secretion in acute experiments in conscious rats with bile-pancreatic fistulae. Feeding for 10 days with wheat bran resulted in increased pancreatic weight and in increased protein and trypsinogen content. Administration of pectin of high (73%) methylic esterification caused increased pancreatic protein content and that of low methylic esterification increased pancreatic trypsinogen activity/milligram tissue. The results suggest that pectin and wheat bran may interfere with the feedback regulation of pancreatic enzyme secretion exerted by intraluminal trypsin, and, like trypsin inhibitor, have a secretagogue and trophic effect on the pancreas.