Abstract:

The preventive effect of type 3 resistant starch (RS3) on constipation in mice was evaluated by establishing
animal models of constipation. In this study our results showed that dietary substitution of RS3 in a proportion of 15% for
pregelatinized corn flour resulted in the shortest defecation time for the first black stool and the highest gastrointestinal
transit. In addition, compared with 15%, RS3 when used at 10% and 5% increased the levels of serum motilin (MTL), gastrin
(Gas), endothelin (ET), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and reduced the
level of somatostatin (SS). The intestinal villi of all RS3 groups showed weaker damage and less rupture compared with
the control mice. Collectively these results suggest that dietary supplementation of RS3 diet at three levels has a preventive
effect on constipation in mice, and the best effect is achieved at 15%.

Key words: resistant starch, Kunming mouse, constipation, motilin (MTL), acetylcholine enzyme (AchE)