Feeding the rat intravenously with ketone bodies following colon anastomosis

Ketone bodies are an important metabolic fuel for the gastrointestinal system and as a consequence may promote colonic healing. Ketone bodies and glucose were compared in a dose dependent manner as nonprotein fuels for support of resected colon. Rats had their descending colons resected and received all nutrients by vein for 5 days postoperation. Colonic healing was evaluated from the air pressure required to break the wound. All rats received constant nutrients except for non-protein energy which was fed at 10.5, 21, 31.5, and 42 kcal/day using either glucose or monoacetoacetin as substrate. Colonic bursting pressure was measured on day 5 after surgery. When energy intake was 21 kcal/day or greater, the bursting pressure was two-thirds of nonwounded tissue and was independent of energy quantity and source. At 10.5 kcal/day, bursting pressure for glucose-fed animals was similar to that for animals with no added nonprotein energy while, in contrast, bursting pressure for animals fed monoacetoacetin was similar to that for animals fed 42 kcal/day. It was concluded that bursting pressure was influenced by dietary intake only if the energy intake was sufficiently low, and then ketone bodies were better than glucose for support of colonic healing.