Effect of the dietary supplementation of corn hemicellulose on fecal flora and bacterial enzyme activities in human adults

The effect of a dietary supplementation of corn hemicellulose (10g/day for 10 days) extracted from corn hull on fecal weight, moisture, pH, microflora, ammonia content, and on the activities of β-glucuronidase, β-glucosidase and nitroreductase were studied in nine healthy volunteers. Corn hemicellulose increased the fecal weight, lowered the fecal pH, decreased the fecal ammonia content, and decreased the β-glucuronidase and nitroreductase activities (per gram of wet feces and daily output) significantly (p < 0.05). β-Glucosidase activity per gram of wet feces was decreased, but its daily output did not change. No remarkable changes in the fecal flora were observed at the bacterial group level. The results demonstrate that corn hemicellulose significantly influenced the fecal bulk and harmful bacterial products.