Colloidal transport of lipid digesta in human and porcine small intestinal mucus

Abstract

Small intestinal mucus transport of food-derived particulates has not been extensively studied, despite mucus being a barrier nutrients need to cross before absorption. We used complex dispersions of digesta obtained from simulated, dynamic gastrointestinal digestion of yogurt to examine the penetrability of human and porcine mucus to the particles formed of lipolysis products. Quantitative, time-lapse confocal microscopy revealed a sieve-like behaviour of the pig jejunal and ileal mucus. The digesta diffusivity decreased significantly over the first 30 min of mucus penetration, and then remained constant at ca. 5 × 10-12 m 2 s − 1 (approx. 70% decrease from initial values). A non-significantly different penetrability was recorded for the ileal mucus of adult humans. The digesta diffusion rates in neonatal, jejunal mucus of 2 week old piglets were 5-8 times higher than in the three different types of adult mucus. This is the first report that validates the mucus of fully-grown pigs as a human-relevant substitute for mucus permeation studies of nutrients/bio-actives and/or complex colloidal dispersions (e.g., post-digestion food particulates, orally-administrated delivery systems).

Nanopeptide C-I20 as a novel feed additive effectively alleviates detrimental impacts of soybean meal on mandarin fish by improving the intestinal mucosal barrier

“…The thickening of mucin in the high-dose feeding group can resist the damage of irritants to maintain the normal function of the intestinal tract. However, a mucin layer that is too thick may affect the intestinal digestion and absorption function ( 33 ). This may be the reason that the application effect of 320 mg/kg C-I20 treatment was not superior to that of 160 mg/kg C-I20 treatment.…”