The ileostomy model for the study of carbohydrate digestion and carbohydrate effects on sterol excretion in man

Abstract

The ileostomy model offers a method for direct, accurate and quantitative determination of small bowel excretion, provided the bacteriological degradation of the effluent can be minimized. The intraindividual variation is small, and rapid changes in excretion pattern due to dietary manipulations can be measured. Such ileostomy investigations have been important for developing the resistant starch and dietary fibre concepts. Using this method, various mechanisms for effects of dietary fibre on plasma lipids can be elucidated, e.g. binding of cholesterol, bile acids and/or lipids. Another application is to study the capacity of phytic acid and its degradation products to bind minerals in the small bowel.