Apolipoprotein B gene expression in rat intestine The effect of dietary fiber

The effect of the dietary fiber on apo B mRNA level was studied in the intestine of rats that were fed either fiber-free or high-fiber (30% sugar-beet fiber) low-fat diets for 3 weeks. The fiber diet studied does not affect jejunal apo B mRNA levels but decreases the level of ileal apo B mRNA. In the rat cecum, in both fiber-free and fiber groups, we failed to detect the apo B mRNA. The test fiber diet feeding markedly increased fecal bile salt and cholesterol excretions. We suggest that dietary fiber can modify apo B expression in the intestine. The increased fecal bile salt excretion might be involved in such a modification.