The modulation of intestinal endotoxin transport by different dietary fats

Abstract

Intestinal derived endotoxin and the subsequent endotoxemia are considered to be major predisposing factors for diseases such as atherosclerosis, sepsis, obesity and diabetes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of dietary fat on intestinal endotoxin transport. We hypothesized that saturated fat (SF) would augment, while n‐3 fatty acids (FA) would attenuate endotoxin transport across the small intestine of pigs. Eleven pigs (three‐four weeks of age) were euthanized and jejunum segments were mounted in modified Ussing chambers. Segments were treated with either no oil (CON), 12.5% (v/v) vegetable oil (VO), DHA (DO), cod liver oil (CLO), coconut oil (CO) or olive oil (OO) in 20 mM bile acid. Ex vivo endotoxin transport was measured by the addition of fluoroscein isothiocyanate labeled lipopolysaccharide (FITC‐LPS, 20 μg/mL) and serial sampling of the mucosal and serosal chambers. Fluorescence was measured in a plate reader and an apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) was calculated using the surface area and transport rate. Compared to the CON, DO and CLO reduced the endotoxin Papp by 50% (P<0.01). However, versus the CON, CO increased the Papp by 60% (P=0.008). OO and VO Papp were not different from the CON. Overall, these data indicate that fat high in n‐3 FA can attenuate intestinal endotoxin transport, while SF augments endotoxin transport. This work was supported by the USDA and NWRC.