title: A diet containing whey protein, glutamine, and TGFbeta modulates gut protein metabolism during chemotherapy-induced mucositis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mucositis, a common side effect of chemotherapy, is characterized by compromised digestive function, barrier integrity and immune competence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a specifically designed diet Clinutren Protect (CP), which contains whey proteins, TGFbeta-rich casein, and free glutamine, on mucositis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mucositis was induced by three consecutive injections (day 0, day 1, day 2) of methotrexate (2.5 mg/kg). Rats had free access to CP or placebo diets from days -7 to 9. In the placebo diet, whey proteins and TGFbeta-rich casein were replaced by TGFbeta-free casein and glutamine by alanine. Intestinal parameters were assessed at day 3 and 9. Values, expressed as mean +/- SEM, were compared using two-way ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At day 3, villus height was markedly decreased in the placebo (296 +/- 11 microm) and CP groups (360 +/- 10 microm) compared with controls (464 +/- 27 microm), but more markedly in the placebo as compared to CP group. The intestinal damage score was also reduced in the CP compared with the placebo group. Glutathione content increased in the CP compared with the placebo group (2.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.2 micromol/g tissue). Gut protein metabolism was more affected in the placebo than in the CP group. The fractional synthesis rate was decreased in the placebo group (93.8 +/- 4.9%/day) compared with controls (121.5 +/- 12.1, P < 0.05), but not in the CP group (106.0 +/- 13.1). In addition, at day 9, rats exhibited improved body weight and food intake recovery in the CP compared to the placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinutren Protect feeding reduces intestinal injury in the acute phase of methotrexate-induced mucositis in rats and improves recovery.
authors.affiliation: ADEN EA4311 Institute for Biomedical Research and European Institute for Peptide Research (IFRMP23), Rouen University, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Nabile
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boukhettala
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Claeyssens
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Le Pessot
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vuichoud
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavoinne
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Breuillé
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Déchelotte
authors.forename: Moïse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coëffier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052016:Mucositis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067816:Whey Proteins
chemical_list: D008894:Milk Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D005973:Glutamine