Cecal infusion of nutrients improves nutritional status of rats.
The role of colonic fermentation in providing energy was investigated in rats with small bowel transection (T) or 80% resection (SBR). Rats were randomized to receive for 12 d either saline (S) or the enteral solution (E) through a cecostomy to meet 30% of energy requirement; the rest (70%) was provided by parenteral nutrition. Although SBR-S rats lost weight significantly compared with d 1 of the study, SBR-E rats gained. Significantly greater carcass wet weight and fat were found in SBR-E and T-E rats compared with SBR-S and T-S rats. SBR-E and T-E rats had significantly greater colonic mucosal dry weight and protein compared with SBR-S and T-S rats. Cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents were also significantly higher in SBR-E and T-E rats compared with SBR-S and T-S rats. There was no significant effect of surgery (T vs. SBR) on any of the variables studied. These results suggest that the products of fermentation of an enteral solution infused through a cecostomy contribute substantially to energy requirement, maintenance of body composition and nutritional status of rats.
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002431:Cecostomy; D002432:Cecum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000592:standards*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005285:Fermentation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000592:standards*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology
D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile