Abstract
The algal polysaccharides laminarin (LAM) and fucoidan (FUC) have potent anti-inflammatory activities in the gastrointestinal tract. Our objective was to examine the impact of prior consumption of LAM and/or FUC on pathology and inflammation following a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) challenge in pigs. Pigs (n 7/group) were assigned to one of five experimental groups for 56 d. From 49-55 d, distilled water or DSS was administered intragastrically. The experimental groups were: (1) basal diet + distilled water (control); (2) basal diet + DSS (DSS); (3) basal diet + FUC + DSS (FUC + DSS); (4) basal diet + LAM + DSS (LAM + DSS); and (5) basal diet + LAM + FUC + DSS (LAMFUC + DSS). The DSS group had decreased body-weight gain (P < 0·05) and serum xylose (P < 0·05), and increased proximal colon pathology score (P < 0·05), diarrhoeal score (P < 0·001) and colonic Enterobacteriaceae (P < 0·05) relative to the control group. The FUC + DSS (P < 0·01), LAM + DSS (P < 0·05) and LAMFUC + DSS (P < 0·05) groups had improved diarrhoeal score, and the LAMFUC + DSS (P < 0·05) group had improved body weight relative to the DSS group. The FUC + DSS group (P < 0·001), LAM + DSS group (P < 0·05) and LAMFUC + DSS group (P < 0·001) had lower IL-6 mRNA abundance relative to the DSS group. The LAM + DSS group had reduced Enterobacteriaceae in proximal colon digesta relative to the DSS group (P < 0·05). In conclusion, FUC or a combination of FUC and LAM improved body-weight loss, diarrhoeal scores and clinical variables associated with a DSS challenge in pigs, in tandem with a reduction in colonic IL-6 mRNA abundance.
Highlights
The algal polysaccharides laminarin (LAM) and fucoidan (FUC) have potent anti-inflammatory activities in the gastrointestinal tract
Under a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) challenge situation, pigs had impaired body-weight gain and diarrhoea. This was accompanied by histopathological evidence of Ulcerative colitis (UC) in the proximal colon, increases in pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression, and an increase in the luminal abundance of Enterobacteriaceae
Prior consumption of FUC and/or LAM improved the diarrhoeal score associated with a DSS challenge, indicating a protective effect
Summary
The algal polysaccharides laminarin (LAM) and fucoidan (FUC) have potent anti-inflammatory activities in the gastrointestinal tract. FUC or a combination of FUC and LAM improved body-weight loss, diarrhoeal scores and clinical variables associated with a DSS challenge in pigs, in tandem with a reduction in colonic IL-6 mRNA abundance. LAM and FUC demonstrate pleiotropic effects in the porcine large intestine including regulation of gene expression of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines relevant to UC, and inhibitory effects on the abundance of colonic Enterobacteriaceae[8,11,12] These biological effects have been accompanied by improvements in nutrient absorption, body-weight gain and incidence of diarrhoea in piglets[13,14]. The objective of the study was to investigate the preventative role of prior consumption of either LAM and FUC, or a combination of both, on the colonic pathology, inflammatory gene expression and abundance of Enterobacteriaceae following a DSS challenge in pigs. The pigs were weighed at the beginning of the experiment (day 0), at the commencement of DSS dosing (day 49) and the day of euthanasia (day 56) to obtain body weight and calculate average daily body-weight change
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
