Lactulose Feeding in Piglets (A Model for Persistent Diarrhea and Colitis Induced by Severe Sugar Malabsorption)

1573-2568

LACTULOSE ; SUGAR MALABSORPTION ; WEIGHT GAIN ; COLITIS ; CELL PROLIFERATION ; APOPTOSIS

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Abstract We sought to determine, in a piglet model,whether severe sugar malabsorption causes colonic injuryor inflammation. Twenty-four piglets were randomized toreceive either control formula (CON) or CON supplemented with lactulose (LAC) (N = 12 each group). Afterseven days, inflammation, apoptosis, and crypt cellproliferation were assessed in the proximal colon(cecum). Lactulose feeding caused persistent diarrhea. In both groups, breath H2concentration was low, suggesting no increasedfermentation in the LAC group. Weight gain/volumeformula intake was identical in the CON and LAC groups(0.09 ± 0.13 and 0.09 ± 0.11 g/ml) respectively. Injury to thecolon did not occur, but inflammation of the colon(scale 0-5) was greater in LAC (score of 1.5 ±1.38) than in CON (0.42 ± 0.79; P 〈 0.05).Cell proliferation at the basal 40% of the crypt was 92% increasedin CON (labeling index 22.8 ± 9.9 vs 11.9± 2.8; P 〈 0.05). We conclude that persistentfeeding during severe sugar malabsorption permits weightgain but may cause colitis.

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