CYTOTOXICITY OF FECAL WATER IS DEPENDENT ON THE TYPE OF DIETARY-FAT AND IS REDUCED BY SUPPLEMENTAL CALCIUM-PHOSPHATE IN RATS

The effects of the type of dietary fat (180 g/kg diet) and of calcium phosphate (CaHPO4) supplementation (25 vs. 225 mmol/kg diet) on luminal solubility of fatty acids and bile acids, cytotoxicity of fecal water and intestinal epitheliolysis were studied in rats. In rats fed the low and high calcium phosphate diets, fecal excretion of fatty acids diminished in the order palm oil > milk fat > corn oil. Palm oil also caused the highest concentration of fatty acids measured in fecal water followed by milk fat and corn oil when fed at both calcium phosphate levels. The differences in concentrations of luminal surfactants in fecal water of rats fed the three fat diets resulted in a fat type-dependent cytotoxicity of fecal water, with that of palm oil-fed rats the most cytotoxic. The concentrations of fatty acids as well as bile acids in fecal water were, however, significantly lowered by calcium phosphate supplementation in rats fed all types of dietary fat. This reduction in concentration of fecal water surfactants resulted in a lower cytotoxicity of fecal water. The concentration of surfactants in fecal water and cytotoxicity were correlated by multiple regression analysis (R = 0.89). Intestinal epitheliolysis measured as alkaline phosphatase activity in fecal water was lowered comparably to the reduction in cytotoxicity by supplemental calcium phosphate. Intestinal epitheliolysis and cytotoxicity of fecal water were correlated (r = 0.92, P < 0.001). The type of dietary fat and the amount of dietary calcium phosphate influence the concentrations of surfactants in fecal water and consequently affect cytotoxicity of fecal water and intestinal epitheliolysis. These interactions between dietary fat and calcium may partially explain how diet affects the risk of colon cancer.