Variability in caffeic acid protection from dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis in mice

Abstract

To examine interindividual variability in the efficacy of caffeic acid protection against colitis, 36 10‐wk‐old CD‐1/IGS female mice were fed 120 mg caffeic acid/kg diet for 7 d, with 12 controls fed AIN93G diet. Half of the mice in each treatment were then given 1.25% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for 5 days. Caffeic acid prevented mouse body weight loss by DSS (p < 0.05). Colon lengths in mice fed caffeic acid/DSS were longer than in DSS‐treated control. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) was inhibited in mice given caffeic acid/DSS compared with DSS‐treated controls. Cecal score (necrosis, edema, erosion and neutrophil infiltration) of DSS‐fed mice was significantly more severe compared with mice fed caffeic acid before and during DSS treatment. Two subgroups were identified after cluster analysis of cecal score in mice fed caffeic acid/DSS. Mice with severe cecal damage showed mean cecal score of 9.1 (n=8), greater than did mice showing mild cecal damage (mean score=5.6, n=7, p <0.05). Caffeic acid‐fed mice with severe cecal damage had significantly greater colonic MPO activity than did mice with mild cecal damage (p <0.05). These effects in mice fed caffeic acid/DSS are hypothesized to be due to differences in caffeic acid bioavailability, which is under analysis.Funded by Iowa State University Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition.