Effect of Konjac mannan on spontaneous liver tumorigenesis and fecal flora in C3H/He male mice.

The effect of Konjac mannan (KM) on spontaneous liver tumorigenesis and fecal flora was studied in C3H/He male mice maintained on a diet containing 10% KM. The weight gain in the 10% KM diet group was lower than that in a control diet group throughout the experimental period. At 12 months of age, the number of liver tumor nodules per mouse in the KM diet group was significantly lower than that in the control diet group (P less than 0.05). Frequency of occurrence of bifidobacteria and bacterial counts of enterobacteriaceae in the KM diet group were significantly higher than those in the control diet group (P less than 0.05). Thus, the present study demonstrates that dietary KM inhibited spontaneous liver tumorigenesis and altered fecal flora in C3H/He male mice.