The abilities of dietary fibers to promote the excretion of intestinal fermentation gases were evaluated in five healty men. Flatus and breath gases were collected and analyzed during 3 days of each 9-day metabolic period. Responses to feeding xylan, pectin, cellulose and corn bran were compared to
The relationships between fermentation in the gut and colonic function were studied by using data derived from a human metabolic study. Five healthy men were fed diets that were fiber-free or contained cellulose, xylan, pectin or corn bran. Fermentation was assessed by measuring the excretion of