Elemental diet moderates 5-fluorouracil-induced gastrointestinal mucositis through mucus barrier alteration

There are reports that elemental diet (ED) ameliorates oral mucositis caused by antineoplastic chemotherapy. Although this effectiveness may be partly due to high nutrient absorption, the effects of chemotherapy on mucosal defense mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the effects of oral supplementation with ED on mucin in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis.

5-FU was administered to rats orally once daily, and ED was supplied orally twice daily for 5 days. The severity of mucositis was assessed by length, dry tissue weight, and villus height of the intestinal tract. Using anti-mucin monoclonal antibody, we compared the immunoreactivity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and mucin content by histological and biochemical examinations.

Oral supplementation with ED reduced histological damage and loss of length, dry tissue weight, and villus height induced by 5-FU administration. ED markedly altered PGM34 antibody immunoreactivity and mucin contents in the small intestine of rats with 5-FU-induced mucositis.

ED may possibly be more effective for the prevention of antineoplastic chemotherapy-induced mucositis through the activation of GI mucus cells.