Apparent digestibility and glycaemic responses to an experimental induced viscosity dietary fibre incorporated into an enteral formula fed to dogs cannulated in the ileum

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apparent digestibility and postprandial glycaemic responses of ileal-cannulated dogs when fed an experimental induced viscosity dietary fibre (IVF) incorporated into a liquid enteral formula. Dietary treatments were: (1) control; (2) Glucerna®11Glucerna and Jevity are registered trademarks of Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH 43215. Glytrol is a registered trademark of Clintec Nutrition Company, Deerfield, IL 60015, USA. Glytrol®; (4) IVF; and (5) Jevity®. Diets varied in concentrations of crude protein (CP), fat, starch and total dietary fibre (TDF). Dry matter and starch intakes by dogs fed the Glucerna® and Glytrol® treatments were lower (P<0.05) than for those consuming the other diets. However, daily intakes of CP and fat followed a reverse trend. Digestibility of nutrients at the ileum was high (>80%) for all dietary treatments. Mineral absorption proximal to the ileum and from the total tract was not significantly different among treatments. Mean incremental area under the serum glucose response curves for dogs fed Glytrol®, Glucerna®, and IVF treatments were lower (P<0.05) than the control treatment. Induced viscosity fibre appears to have no negative effects on nutrient digestion throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Its ability to moderate serum glucose concentrations would make it a potentially good choice for a diabetic liquid formula.