Preventive rather than therapeutic treatment with high fiber diet attenuates clinical and inflammatory markers of acute and chronic DSS-induced colitis in mice

Abstract

Preventive use of a high fiber diet or acetate clearly protects mice against acute and chronic damage induced by DSS in mice. However, protection is lost when therapies are initiated after disease has been established. These results suggest that any therapy aimed at modifying the gut environment (e.g., prebiotic or probiotic strategies) should be given early in the course of disease.

Bugging inflammation: role of the gut microbiota

“…48 However, when given during DSS-induced colitis as a model of treatment, both fibre (with or without the addition of B. longum) and acetate failed to alter disease progression, indicating a role of prebiotics in prevention rather than treatment of disease. 109 This further supports the association between consumption of a Western diet and increase in risk for the later development of inflammatory diseases. It also suggests the importance in timing of prebiotic treatments, and that such therapies are more effective during remission and inactive inflammatory responses.…”

“…Soluble dextrin from different sources (corn or tapioca) differentially alters the gut microbiota, thus it is safe to assume the complexity of prebiotic fermentation and the effects of prebiotics on the gut microbiota colonies 108 . When fed a high‐fibre diet or SCFA acetate, mice had a reduced risk of developing colitis 109 , 110 . This could be due to the actions of butyrate on the colonic epithelium, but also the capacity of SCFAs in promoting the numbers and functions of colonic Tregs, thus enabling a state that is more resistant to inflammation 48 .…”

“…This could be due to the actions of butyrate on the colonic epithelium, but also the capacity of SCFAs in promoting the numbers and functions of colonic Tregs, thus enabling a state that is more resistant to inflammation 48 . However, when given during DSS‐induced colitis as a model of treatment, both fibre (with or without the addition of B. longum ) and acetate failed to alter disease progression, indicating a role of prebiotics in prevention rather than treatment of disease 109 . This further supports the association between consumption of a Western diet and increase in risk for the later development of inflammatory diseases.…”

“…108 When fed a high-fibre diet or SCFA acetate, mice had a reduced risk of developing colitis. 109,110 This could be due to the actions of butyrate on the colonic epithelium, but also the capacity of SCFAs in promoting the numbers and functions of colonic Tregs, thus enabling a state that is more resistant to inflammation. 48 However, when given during DSS-induced colitis as a model of treatment, both fibre (with or without the addition of B. longum) and acetate failed to alter disease progression, indicating a role of prebiotics in prevention rather than treatment of disease.…”

Dietary fiber and the short-chain fatty acid acetate promote resolution of neutrophilic inflammation in a model of gout in mice

“…In experiments in which mice were given SCFA/sodium acetate (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) before MSU challenge, 150 mM acetate was added to the drinking water of the mice 5 d before the challenge and by oral gavage in experiments whereby SCFA treatment was to be given after the MSU challenge. In the diet experiments, as in earlier studies [16,17], mice were maintained on an HF (AIN93M with addition of Pectin 10%) and a normal LF (AIN93M) diet (Supplemental Fig. 1), 2 wk before and during MSU challenge.…”