Effects of dietary fiber complex on intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with experimental ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of enteral nutrision (EN) containing dietary fiber complex (DFC) on intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with experimental colitis. Methods Ninety six SD rats were induced into ulcerative colitis by acetic acid enema.than were divided into 3 groups. The rats in group C received non-DFC nutrison, while the rats in group Tl or group T2 received soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) of the EN with different proportion (1:2 or 1:3, respectively). At the first-, third-,fifth- and seventh-day after the EN, the concentration of D-lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in plasma were detected and intestinal samples were obtained to observe the changes of intestinal mucosa. Results At the third-,fifth- and seventh-day,the D-lactate concentration and the DAO activity in plasma significantly reduced in group Tl and T2 when compared with group C (P<0. 05) , but there was no statistical difference between group Tl and group T2. The scores of histological damages of colon in the group Tl and group T2 decreased in comparison with group C at all time points (P < 0. 05). However, the scores of histological damages of colon significantly decreased in group T2 when compared with group Tl at day 5 and day 7 (P <0. 05). Conclusion EN containing DFC may reduce the intestinal permeability of colitis in rats, which has a protective effect on intestinal mucosal barrier. While different proportions of the SDF or IDF ratio result in different effects on the mucosal protection. This protective effect will be enhanced by increasing the ratio of IDF in a certain scale. Key words: Ulcerative colitis; Dietary fiber; Intestinal mucosal barrier) D-lactic acid; Diamine oxidase