Disappearance of Cellulose and Hemicellulose from the Digestive Tracts of Children

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Eighteen children, ages 4 to 12 years, were observed for from 30 to 225 successive days, during which they consumed uniform diets of known nutritive quality. With an average daily intake per child of 4 to 6 gm. of cellulose plus hemicellulose (138 to 248 mg. per kilogram of body weight) there was satisfactory bowel elimination and all children enjoyed buoyant health throughout the studies. The average daily fecal excretion of cellulose and hemicellulose for 2455 days ranged from 0.03 to 2.26 gm. (1.5 to 97.4% of the intake) and 0.36 to 2.24 gm. (17.1 to 83.4% of intake), respectively. From 2.6 to 98.5% of the cellulose intake and 16.6 to 82.9% of the hemicellulose were digested by intestinal organisms during passage through the alimentary canal. From the observations recorded in this study a roughage intake of 5 to 7 gm. of fiber per day, or 168 to 331 mg. per kilogram of body weight per day, provided adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates for normal laxation and all other known physiologic processes of normal children, and there was no evidence of any untoward effects upon the absorption of nitrogen and the mineral elements.