Dietary fiber binding of bile acid through mineral supplementation

Iron and/or calcium were added to psyllium, guar gum, locust bean gum, citrus rag, high methoxy pectin, and low methoxy pectin. This mixture was then incubated with either cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, glycocholic acid, or taurocholic acid to evaluate the effect of minerals on fiber-bile acid binding. The addition of iron with or without calcium increased the binding of deoxycholic acid to all fibers (p less than or equal to 0.01 and p less than or equal to 0.025) except low methoxy pectin. Iron and calcium caused increased binding of high methoxy pectin to all bile acids (p less than or equal to 0.01 and p less than or equal to 0.025). Dietary fiber's ability to bind certain bile acids may be maximized through mineral supplementation