Colostrum protein concentrate enhances intestinal adaptation after massive small bowel resection in juvenile pigs

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) usually results from the surgical removal of a large segment of small intestine. Patient outcome depends on the extent of intestinal resection and adaptation of the remaining intestine. We evaluated the impact of colostrum protein concentrate (CPC) on intestinal adaptation after massive small bowel resection in a porcine model of infant SBS.

Four-week-old piglets underwent an approximate 75% small bowel resection (R, n = 23) or a control transection operation (C, n = 14). Postoperatively, animals from both groups received either pig chow (R = 6, C = 5), polymeric infant formula (R = 6, C = 3) or polymeric infant formula supplemented with CPC (R = 11, C = 6) for 8 weeks until sacrifice. Clinical outcome measures included weight gain and stool consistency. Morphologic measures were intestinal villus height and crypt depth. Functional outcome measure was mucosal disaccharidase activity.

Resected animals fed polymeric infant formula alone had reduced weight gain compared with controls fed the same diet (P < 0.005). Despite massive small bowel resection, animals fed pig chow or polymeric infant formula supplemented with CPC grew at an equivalent rate to controls fed polymeric infant formula alone. Resected animals supplemented with CPC had increased villus length and crypt depth in the jejunum (P < 0.001) and ileum (P < 0.001) compared with resected animals fed either pig chow or polymeric infant formula alone.

In an animal model of SBS, CPC supplementation of polymeric infant formula resulted in normal weight gain and features of enhanced morphologic adaptation.