When raw wheat bran was added to the diet of six subjects for 4–6 weeks, chenodeoxycholate (CDC) synthesis increased from 0.46±0.12 to 0.57±0.17 mmol/day (P<0.025), and="" the="" cdc="" pool="" increased="" from="" 1.72±0.47="" to="" 2.19±0.74="" mmol=""><0.05). deoxycholate="" (dc)="" pool="" size="" diminished="" from="" 1.20±0.29="" to="" 0.80±0.16="" mmol,="" but="" cholate="" synthesis="" and="" pool="" size="" were="" unaffected.="" overall,="" the="" size="" of="" the="" bile="" salt="" pool="" did="" not="" change.="" in="" spite="" of="" this,="" when="" 10="" patients="" with="" probable="" cholesterol="" gallstones="" took="" bran="" supplements="" for="" 4–6="" weeks,="" their="" gallbladder="" bile="" aspirated="" from="" the="" duodenum="" became="" less="" saturated="" with="" cholesterol.="" the="" molar="" percentage="" of="" cholesterol="" fell="" from="" 10.1±3.1%="" to="" 8.6±2.7%=""><0.01), and="" the="" saturation="" index="" of="" bile="" fell="" from="" 1.49±0.40="" to="" 1.29±0.38=""><0.005). bran="" probably="" operates="" primarily="" on="" the="" colon,="" reducing="" the="" formation="" or="" absorption="" of="" the="" bacterial="" metabolite="" dc,="" a="" substance="" which="" impairs="" cdc="">
This work was supported by grants from the British Council, the United Bristol Hospitals and the Kellogg Company of Great Britain Limited.