Medium-chain triglycerides enhance mucous secretion and cell proliferation in the rat

Abstract

MCTs enhance cell proliferation of the intestinal epithelium and mucous secretion from goblet cells in the small intestine. These effects may protect the gut in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease or enterogenous infection.

Small Intestinal Goblet Cell Proliferation Induced by Ingestion of Soluble and Insoluble Dietary Fiber Is Characterized by An Increase in Sialylated Mucins in Rats

“…Because we also observed in rats fed a fiberadded diet or a nonpurified diet (Table 3; Supplemental Fig. 4) that a marked increase in the total number of goblet cells is linked to the accelerated epithelial cell migration (23,37,38). Possibly, an in- jn.nutrition.org creased capacity for mucin secretion accompanied by accelerated epithelial cell turnover may effectively function as an intestinal barrier, irrespective of sialylation/sulfation of mucins, at least under normal conditions.…”

“…This observation may suggest that accelerated epithelial turnover may be linked with an increase in sialylated mucin production. Besides dietary fiber, administration of medium-chain TG (38) or silver nanoparticles (40) also increases the level of sialylated mucin and is accompanied by goblet cell proliferation and accelerated epithelial turnover.…”

Morphology of the Intestinal Barrier in Different Physiological and Pathological Conditions

“…These effects of MCTs might persuade further research on the role of MCTs on the histological changes of the gastrointestinal barrier in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease or enterogenous infections [16].…”

Medium‐chain glycerides affect gut morphology, immune‐ and goblet cells in post‐weaning piglets: In vitro fatty acid screening withEscherichia coliand in vivo consolidation with LPS challenge

“…Adding 5% Cuphea seeds, a natural and rich source of MCT oil (25% w/w), in combination with exogenous lipase, to the diet of piglets, significantly improved performances and increased the villus height/crypt depth ratio and decreased the number of intra‐epithelial lymphocytes in the small intestine (Dierick et al, ). Ishii et al () gavaged unchallenged rats a C8‐triglyceride at a high dosage of 5 g/kg BW per day (approximately 10× the dose of MCT6/8 in the present study). This resulted in an increased jejunal and ileal enterocyte proliferation compared to a control group (corn oil, 5 g/kg BW per day).…”