Differential effects of dietary fibres on colonic barrier function in elderly individuals with gastrointestinal symptoms

Abstract

Gastrointestinal problems are common in elderly and often associated with psychological distress and increased levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone, a hormone known to cause mast cell (MC) degranulation and perturbed intestinal barrier function. We investigated if dietary fibres (non-digestible polysaccharides [NPS]) could attenuate MC-induced colonic hyperpermeability in elderly with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Colonic biopsies from elderly with diarrhoea and/or constipation (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 19) were mounted in Ussing chambers and pre-stimulated with a yeast-derived beta (β)-glucan (0.5 mg/ml) or wheat-derived arabinoxylan (0.1 mg/ml) before the addition of the MC-degranulator Compound (C) 48/80 (10 ng/ml). Permeability markers were compared pre and post exposure to C48/80 in both groups and revealed higher baseline permeability in elderly with GI symptoms. β-glucan significantly attenuated C48/80-induced hyperpermeability in elderly with GI symptoms but not in healthy controls. Arabinoxylan reduced MC-induced paracellular and transcellular hyperpermeability across the colonic mucosa of healthy controls, but did only attenuate transcellular permeability in elderly with GI symptoms. Our novel findings indicate that NPS affect the intestinal barrier differently depending on the presence of GI symptoms and could be important in the treatment of moderate constipation and/or diarrhoea in elderly.

Intestinal barrier function is maintained with aging – a comprehensive study in healthy subjects and irritable bowel syndrome patients

“…Mann-Whitney U-tests), no significant differences were found in colonic permeability as measured by the 5-24 h urinary S/E ratio between elderly and young adults neither in healthy individuals, nor in IBS patients. These findings are largely in line with the comparable 5-24 h urinary S/E ratios between elderly without GI symptoms and younger healthy individuals and as shown by Ganda Mall et al 14 . However, parametric, multivariable linear regression analyses showed that healthy elderly had on average a significantly higher 5-24 h urinary S/E ratio compared with healthy young adults.…”

“…Gene name www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ were not significantly different between elderly and young adults. To our knowledge, one other study compared sigmoid biopsies of elderly with GI symptoms versus young healthy controls, and found no significant difference in TEER, although fluorescein flux and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were significantly higher in elderly with GI symptoms compared with healthy controls 14 . Unfortunately, no biopsies of IBS patients were available for Ussing chamber experiments.…”

“…which addressed the small intestine, no differences in sugar excretion ratios between age groups were found [11][12][13][14] . However, the impact of potential confounders such as medication use (e.g.…”

Effects of Increasing Levels of Defatted Rice Bran on Intestinal Physical Barrier and Bacteria in Finishing Pigs

“…The concentration of soluble dietary fiber and insoluble dietary fiber were 1.4% and 26.1% in DFRB, respectively (measured value of the present study). Ingredients of DFRB usually increase beneficial bacteria, reduce potentially pathogenic bacteria populations, and improve gut barrier function [10][11][12][13]. Some studies have indicated that addition of rice bran in diets may have a prebiotic effect.…”

“…Addition of 10% rice bran improved feed utilization efficiency and tended to increase intestinal Bifidobacteria in weaning pigs [14]. Arabinoxylan (insoluble dietary fiber) reduced colonic mucosa permeability of healthy humans [11].…”