11.   The wet weight of caecal contents was significantly less in the low fibre compared with the higher fibre diet rats.

12.   The proportion of water was therefore significantly less in the low fibre group.

13.   The concentration and total amount of caecal and colonic SCFAs were less in the low fibre diet rats.

14.   The caecal and colonic tissue weights were significantly higher in the rats fed the higher fibre diet than those fed the low fibre diet.

15.   The higher fibre diet fed to the rats could be regarded as their normal fibre intake and thus this study compared normal fibre intake with low fibre intake.

16.   This may also be said of the fibre intake in man where we generally eat a low fibre diet but evolved eating a high fibre diet.

17.   Conversely, a low fibre diet did not lead to changes in cellular proliferation which might be associated with mucosal instability.