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Provision of phosphorylatable substrate during hypoxia decreases jejunal barrier function
1Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. tappende@uiuc.edu
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|February 15, 2002
Summary
Early enteral nutrition can harm high-risk surgical patients if gastrointestinal perfusion is inadequate. Nutrient provision during hypoxia may worsen intestinal barrier function, highlighting the need for careful monitoring of perfusion.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Nutrition
- Intestinal Physiology
Background:
- Early enteral nutrition is recommended for high-risk surgical patients.
- Inadequate gastrointestinal perfusion may lead to intestinal malfunction when nutrients are provided.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of metabolic substrates on gastrointestinal function under varying oxygenation conditions.
- To determine how nutrient provision impacts intestinal barrier function during hypoxia.
Main Methods:
- Jejunal samples from Sprague-Dawley rats were incubated in media with varying oxygen levels (95% to 25%).
- Fluorescent probes of different molecular weights were used to assess intestinal permeability.
- The effect of various substrates (mannitol, glucose, 2-deoxyglucose, 3-O-methylglucose) on probe permeation was measured.
Main Results:
- Lumenal glucose, 2-deoxyglucose, and 3-O-methylglucose increased the permeation of a 4400 MW probe at all oxygen levels.
- Glucose increased the permeation of a 17,200 MW probe across all oxygen levels.
- Hypoxia (50% and 25% oxygen) significantly increased jejunal permeation of both probes, regardless of substrate.
Conclusions:
- Providing lumenal nutrients can worsen gastrointestinal barrier function during hypoxia.
- Adequate gastrointestinal perfusion is crucial for substrate metabolism and preventing further compromise of intestinal function in acutely injured patients.