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Updated: Oct 2, 2026
Chronic Salmonella Infected Mouse Model
Published on: May 31, 2010
Protective effects of dietary lactulose and calcium phosphate against Salmonella infection
I Bovee-Oudenhoven1, R Van der Meer
1Dept. of Nutrition, Netherlands Institute for Dairy Research, Ede, The Netherlands.
Background:
Protection against intestinal infections by lactulose fermentation might be enhanced by calcium phosphate, due to the increased buffering capacity and/or inhibition of the cytotoxicity of luminal contents.
Methods:
SPF rats were fed a low-calcium control diet, a low-calcium/lactulose diet or a high-calcium/lactulose diet and orally infected with Salmonella enteritidis. Faeces and urine were sampled for microbiological and chemical analyses.
Results:
The lactulose-fed rats had a better colonization resistance. Translocation was reduced by dietary calcium, whereas lactulose was ineffective. In addition, calcium supplementation stimulated lactulose fermentation, reversed the lactulose-induced increase in cytotoxicity of faecal water and normalized growth and faecal consistency.
Conclusions:
The combination of dietary lactulose and calcium phosphate is protective against Salmonella infection.
