The Effect of Dietary Phospholipids on the Ultrastructure and Function of Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Dietary composition substantially determines human health and affects complex diseases, including obesity, inflammation and cancer. Thus, food supplements have been widely used to accommodate dietary composition to the needs of individuals. Among the promising supplements are dietary phospholipids (PLs) that are commonly found as natural food ingredients and as emulsifier additives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of major PLs found as food supplements on the morphology of intestinal epithelial cells upon short-term and long-term high-dose feeding in mice. In the present report, the effect of short-term and long-term high dietary PL content was studied in terms of intestinal health and leaky gut syndrome in male mice. We used transmission electron microscopy to evaluate endothelial morphology at the ultrastructural level. We found mitochondrial damage and lipid droplet accumulation in the intracristal space, which rendered mitochondria more sensitive to respiratory uncoupling as shown by a mitochondrial respiration assessment in the intestinal crypts. However, this mitochondrial damage was insufficient to induce intestinal permeability. We propose that high-dose PL treatment impairs mitochondrial morphology and acts through extensive membrane utilization via the mitochondria. The data suggest that PL supplementation should be used with precaution in individuals with mitochondrial disorders.