title: Inulin-enriched pasta improves intestinal permeability and modifies the circulating levels of zonulin and glucagon-like peptide 2 in healthy young volunteers.
abstract: Apart from the intestinal environment, inulin induces physiological effects, which includes a reduction in glucose and lipid concentrations and modulation of gastrointestinal motility through the release of different peptides. We hypothesized that inulin-enriched pasta may also improve small intestine permeability in relation to zonulin and glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) levels in healthy young subjects. Twenty healthy, young male volunteers completed a randomized, double-blind crossover study consisting of a 2-week run-in period and two 5-week study periods (11% inulin-enriched or control pasta), with an 8-week washout period in between. The intestinal barrier function was assessed by lactulose-mannitol excretion in urine. Zonulin values and GLP-2 release were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the inulin group, the urinary lactulose recovery was significantly lower than the other 2 groups. There were no significant differences in urinary mannitol levels between groups. Accordingly, the lactulose-mannitol excretion ratio was significantly decreased in the inulin-enriched pasta group compared with the other 2 groups. The inulin-enriched pasta group had significantly lower zonulin serum values and significantly higher GLP-2 basal values when compared with the baseline and control pasta groups. The dietary use of inulin-enriched pasta preserves intestinal mucosal barrier functioning and modulates circulating levels of zonulin and GLP-2, suggesting that prebiotics could be used in the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases and metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Biochemistry, National Institute for Digestive Diseases I.R.C.C.S. "Saverio de Bellis," Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy. francesco.russo@irccsdebellis.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linsalata
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clemente
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiloiro
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: Guglielmina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chimienti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riezzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005527:Food, Fortified; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006242:Haptoglobins; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007444:Inulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007792:Lactulose / Q000652:urine; D008353:Mannitol / Q000652:urine; D010539:Permeability; D056692:Prebiotics; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D006242:Haptoglobins; D056692:Prebiotics; D011498:Protein Precursors; C408043:zonulin; D008353:Mannitol; D007792:Lactulose; D007444:Inulin; D002772:Cholera Toxin