EFFECTS OF BILE-SALTS ON THE ADSORPTION OF A HYDROPHOBIC MUTAGEN TO DIETARY FIBER

The effect of the bile salts, sodium cholate, deoxycholate, glycocholate and taurocholate, on the solubility in aqueous solution of the hydrophobic, environmental mutagen, 1,8-dinitropyrene (DNP), was examined. In the absence of bile salts, the DNP appeared to precipitate out of solution, whereas bile salts at a concentration of ≥ 4 mM maintained the DNP in solution. In the presence of the model dietary fiber, α-cellulose, the DNP adsorbed to this preferentially. Bile salts reduced this adsorption at low α-cellulose levels, but had little effect at high α-cellulose levels. The implication of these results is that bile salts have solubilising properties that could affect the distribution of hydrophobic molecules, including mutagens, in the digestive tract. © 1990.