Influence of diet complexity on intestinal adaptation following massive small bowel resection in a preclinical model.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of dietary complexity on intestinal adaptation using a preclinical model.


METHODS
Four-week-old piglets underwent a 75% proximal small bowel resection or transection operation (control). Post-operatively, animals received either pig chow (n = 15), polymeric formula (n = 9), polymeric formula plus fiber (n = 6), or elemental formula (n = 7).


RESULTS
The weight gain of all groups was reduced compared with controls that were fed the same diet. Animals that had a resection, which were fed elemental formula, had significantly reduced weight gain compared with the other groups (4.7 4.2 vs 30.7 7.1 kg chow and 11.5 1.3 kg polymeric formula). Villus height was increased in the jejunum, ileum and terminal ileum of resected animals compared with controls in animals fed with pig chow, polymeric formula and elemental formula. The animals that had a resection had a significant reduction in the transepithelial conductance (10.4 5.5 vs 25.4 6.5 mS/cm2) and 51Chromium-EDTA flux (2.8 1.9 vs 4.8 4.9 microL/h per cm2) compared with the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
A complex diet was found to be superior to an elemental diet in terms of the morphological and functional features of adaptation following massive small bowel resection.
Bines
Julie E
JE
Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. bines@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au
Taylor
Russell G
RG
Justice
Frances
F
Paris
Monique C J
MC
Sourial
Magdy
M
Nagy
Eva
E
Emselle
Sarah
S
Catto-Smith
Anthony G
AG
Fuller
Peter J
PJ
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D015430:Weight Gain