Feeding an elemental diet vs a milk-based formula does not decrease intestinal mucosal growth in infant pigs.
BACKGROUND
We previously showed that the level of enteral nutrient intake determines the rate of intestinal growth in piglets. Our objective was to determine whether providing enteral nutrition in the form of elemental nutrients (glucose, amino acids, lipid [ED]) rather than cow's milk formula (lactose, protein, lipid [FORM]) reduces small intestinal growth and lactase activity.


METHODS
Three-week-old piglets were fed either ED (n = 7) intragastrically or FORM (n = 6) orally for 6 days.


RESULTS
Intestinal protein and DNA masses, villus height, and crypt depth were not different in ED and FORM pigs. Crypt cell proliferation, measured by in vivo bromodeoxyuridine labeling, was significantly (p < .05) higher (+37%) in ED than in FORM pigs. Rates of mucosal protein synthesis (%/d), measured by in vivo 2H-leucine incorporation, were higher (p < .05) in ED than FORM (147 vs 89) pigs. Circulating concentrations (pmol/L) of the intestinotrophic peptide, glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), were also higher (p < .05) in ED than in FORM (148 vs 87) pigs. The mean lactase-specific activity (micromol/min/g) in proximal and distal segments was higher (p < .05) in FORM than in ED (124 vs 58) pigs.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that intestinal mucosal growth and villus morphology are similar in pigs fed ED and FORM, despite higher cell proliferation and protein synthesis rates and lower lactase activity with ED. This implies that elemental diets may be as trophic as polymeric formulas to simultaneously provide nutrition and a stimulus for intestinal growth during bowel rest.
Stoll
Barbara
B
USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. bstoll@bcm.tmc.edu
Price
Pamela T
PT
Reeds
Peter J
PJ
Chang
Xiaoyan
X
Henry
Josef F
JF
van Goudoever
Johannes B
JB
Holst
Jens J
JJ
Burrin
Douglas G
DG
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D043322:Lactase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine; D015430:Weight Gain
D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides; D043322:Lactase