Short-chain fructooligosaccharides, in spite of being fermented in the upper part of the large intestine, have anti-inflammatory activity in the TNBS model of colitis

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on intestinal inflammation. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the colonic fermentation of these carbohydrates is a pre-requisite for this anti-inflammatory activity.With this aim short chain-FOS (SC-FOS) were used for an in vitro fermentation to elucidate the time of fermentation of these compounds. For the in vivo experiments female Wistar rats were fed several diets with different sources of fibre (5 g/kg): cellulose for control rats (n = 30) or SC-FOS (n = 20) with a high content of kestose (GF(2)) for the SC-FOS group. After one month of feeding the different diets 10 rats from each group were sacrificed to analyze cecal and colonic microflora, SCFA production and pH of intestinal contents. A distal colonic inflammation was induced to other 10 rats from each group by the administration of 10 mg of TNBS dissolved in 0.25 ml of 50% ethanol (v/v). The rest of the rats from the control group (n = 10) were rendered healthy. One week after TNBS treatment rats were sacrificed and several inflammatory parameters as well as intestinal microbiota and SCFA contents were analyzed. In vitro fermentation experiments showed that SC-FOS are fermented during the first 12 h after incorporating the oligosaccharides to intestinal contents, thus suggesting a preferential fermentation of these carbohydrates in the ileum and cecum. In fact, SC-FOS increased cecal lactobacilli and bifidobacteria counts as well as SCFA production in healthy rats. In colitic rats, SC-FOS feeding caused a decrease of MPO activity, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production and iNOS expression. This anti-inflammatory effect was evidenced macroscopically by a significant reduction in the extent of colonic damage. SC-FOS also promoted a more favorable intestinal microbiota, increasing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria counts. In conclusion, although oligosaccharides are preferentially fermented in the upper parts of the large intestine, its prebiotic effect is extended to the distal colonic segments, thus exerting a positive effect on colonic inflammation.

Molecular-phylogenetic characterization of microbial community imbalances in human inflammatory bowel diseases

“…Several of the OTUs underrepresented in the IBD-subset are most closely related to cultured isolates of butyrate-producing bacteria (Table 1 and SI Table 5). Butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids, which are produced primarily by bacterial metabolism, are important sources of energy for colonic epithelial cells and may enhance epithelial barrier integrity and modulate the GI immune response (53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58). Loss of similar organisms has been correlated with antibiotic-associated diarrhea in a patient (59).…”

Nutritional approaches for managing obesity-associated metabolic diseases

“…Current dietary interventions to reduce intestine inflammation and thus, lessen the pain associated with such conditions include treatment with both macro- and micronutrients. For example, in rodent models of colitis and/or in vitro studies investigating anti-inflammatory therapeutics milk oligosaccharides, PUFAs, and polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids are shown to significantly reduce intestinal inflammation (Lara-Villoslada, et al 2006; Vezza, et al 2016). Given this, it is a logic extension to use dietary approaches for protecting against obesity-associated intestinal inflammation.…”

Ameliorating Effects of Short-Chain Inulin-Like Fructans on the Healing Stage of Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis in Rats

“…We therefore assumed that these anti-inflammatory effects of SIF might be exerted through a shield-like effect against endotoxin and bacterial translocation at the early stage of colitis, leading to the reduced colonic damage 10 d after the induction of colitis. 7) A number of studies examining the effects of prebiotics, including dietary fiber and probiotics, on TNBSinduced rat colitis have already been reported, but most of them evaluated the preventive effects in the acute phase of colitis within 1-2 weeks after TNBS administration; 5,6,[9][10][11][12] the outcome was mostly successful when the treatment began before the induction of colitis. Indeed, Peran et al 6) have reported for rats that a pretreatment of Lactobacillus rutei and L. fermentum, starting 2 weeks before TNBS administration, significantly reduced colonic damage both histologically and biochemically.…”