Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum Increases  Ferroportin Expression in the Colon of Anemic  Growing Rats

Abstract

Studies have reported a positive effect of prebiotics on the bioavailability of iron. This study evaluated the effect of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) on iron absorption mechanisms in anemic rats. Male Wistar rats were fed 75g American Institute of Nutrition Rodent Diets for growth, pregnancy and lactation (AIN93-G) without iron for three weeks in order to induce iron deficiency anemia. Then they were fed a control diet (n = 12; without fiber) or a diet with 7.5% of PHGG (n = 12), both without iron. Food intake, body growth and the feed efficiency coefficient (FEC) were measured. The animals were euthanized after two weeks of treatment. The weight of the organs, the pH of the cecal content, and the hepatic iron and ferroportin expression in the cecum, duodenum, and liver were assessed. The intake of PHGG reduced food intake without affecting body growth, and there was a difference between the groups regarding the FEC (p = 0.026), with the highest value found in the PHGG group. The weight of the cecal content increased (p ≤ 0.001) and the pH of the cecal content was significantly lower in the PHGG group. The intake of PHGG significantly increased ferroportin expression in the cecum;however, the difference was not significant in the duodenum and the liver. PHGG seems to have a positive influence on iron absorption through transporter expression, and structural and physiological changes in the colon of anemic growing animals.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Increases the Production of Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Decreases pH Values in Mouse Colon

“…The weights of colonic and cecal contents were involved in improving intestinal health [ 52 , 53 ]. Zhou et al [ 40 ] reported that the increase of the cecal content and cecal wall weight might result from the formation of SCFAs.…”

Rational Management of Iron-Deficiency Anaemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…Intestinal bleeding in patients with IBD increases iron loss. With the majority of iron being taken up in the duodenum through heme and nonheme iron transporters (elementary iron is reduced to Fe 2+ before uptake) with animal data showing some absorption from the large bowel as well [ 54 ], the iron enters the epithelial cells. Iron might be stored in the cells as mucosal ferritin or is exported to the circulation through the transporter, ferroportin and oxidized to Fe 3+ .…”

Intake of Polydextrose Alters Hematology and the Profile of Short Chain Fatty Acids in Partially Gastrectomized Rats

“…Evidences point out several benefits in iron absorption from the ingestion of prebiotics [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Polydextrose (PDX), a highly branched and randomly linked glucose polymer with a mean degree of polymerization of 12, ranging from 2 to 120 and containing all possible combinations of 1→2, 1→3, 1→4 and 1→6 glycosidic bonds, with 1→6 (both α and β) predominating, has received special attention in iron metabolism and absorption [ 10 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”