Total, ileal and cecal digestibility and postprandial glycemia variation in rats fed with gelatinized cassava starch

Abstract

The total, ileal e cecal digestibility, the percentage of digesta reaching the ileum, and the value of their correlation with the blood glucose are important pieces of information for estimating the nutritional value of both starch itself and starchy regimens. In order to determine the total, ileal e cecal digestibility of one type of meal and of its starch, the percentage of digesta reaching the ileum and the correlation between the latter and the postprandial glycemia variations in rats, at regular time spans, a pilot study was carried out with ten Wistar rats, fed with gelatinized cassava starch. The results of the total, ileal e cecal digestibility as well as the percentage of digesta reaching the ileum were obtained by analyzing both the feces and the ileal and cecal content by means of Cr2O3. At the same time spans (0, 30, 60, 90 e 120 minutes after meal), the blood was collected and the glucose dosage was estimated by using an enzymatic kit. The results indicate a high correlation between the percentage of digesta reaching the ileum and the glycemia, as well as a high value of digestibility of the gelatinized cassava starch, which is in agreement with other studies on digestibility using gelatinized starch.