Fiber: effect on bacterial translocation and intestinal mucin content

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Nutritional Science
• Surgical Nutrition

Background:

• Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and elemental diets (ED) can lead to intestinal atrophy and increased bacterial translocation (BT).
• Alterations in mucosal structure, enzyme activity, or mucin content may contribute to increased BT rates.
• Dietary fiber has shown potential in improving intestinal structure and function in rodent models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if adding fiber to TPN or ED can preserve intestinal integrity.
• To determine if fiber supplementation reduces bacterial translocation (BT) to mesenteric lymph nodes.
• To explore the relationship between intestinal structure, mucin content, and fiber's effect on BT.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-six rats were assigned to five groups: TPN, TPN with oat fiber (TPNF), ED, ED with oat fiber (EDF), and a control (AIN-76).
• Rats were pair-fed for 7 days, followed by bacterial cultures of mesenteric lymph nodes on day 8.
• Jejunal mucosal weight, DNA, protein, alkaline phosphatase, maltase, and mucin content were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Enteral nutrition (ED and EDF) significantly reduced BT compared to parenteral nutrition (TPN and TPNF).
• Fiber supplementation (TPNF and EDF) significantly decreased BT in rats receiving TPN or ED.
• Improvements in intestinal mucosal structure were not consistently linked to reduced BT rates.
• Bacterial translocation (BT) occurred independently of jejunal mucin concentration.

Conclusions:

• Fiber supplementation can decrease bacterial translocation (BT) in rats receiving TPN or ED.
• Mechanisms beyond maintaining mucosal structure or mucin content are involved in fiber's beneficial effects on BT.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms of fiber-induced reduction in BT.