title: Kefir treatment ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the preventive effect of kefir on colitis induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four male Wistar-albino rats were randomized into four groups: normal control, kefir-control, colitis, and kefir-colitis groups. Rats in the normal and kefir-control groups were administered tap water as drinking water for 14 d. Rats in the colitis and kefir-colitis groups were administered a 3% DSS solution as drinking water for 8-14 d to induce colitis. Rats in the kefir-control and kefir-colitis groups were administered 5 mL kefir once a day for 14 d while rats in the normal control and colitis group were administered an identical volume of the placebo (skim milk) using an orogastric feeding tube. Clinical colitis was evaluated with reference to the disease activity index (DAI), based on daily weight loss, stool consistency, and presence of bleeding in feces. Rats were sacrificed on the 15(th) day, blood specimens were collected, and colon tissues were rapidly removed. Levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, malondialdehyde, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were measured in colon tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DAI was lower in the kefir-colitis group than in the colitis group (on the 3(rd) and 5(th) days of colitis induction; P < 0.01). The DAI was also significantly higher in the colitis group between days 2 and 6 of colitis induction when compared to the normal control and kefir-control groups. The DAI was statistically higher only on the 6(th) day in the kefir-colitis group when compared to that in the normal control groups. Increased colon weight and decreased colon length were observed in colitis-induced rats. Mean colon length in the colitis group was significantly shorter than that of the kefir-control group. Kefir treatment significantly decreased histologic colitis scores (P < 0.05). MPO activity in the colitis group was significantly higher than in the kefir-control group (P < 0.05). Kefir treatment significantly reduced the DSS colitis-induced TNF-α increase (P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed among groups for IL-10 and MDA levels. Colon tissue iNOS levels in the colitis group were significantly higher than those in the control and kefir-colitis groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kefir reduces the clinical DAI and histologic colitis scores in a DSS-induced colitis model, possibly via reduction of MPO, TNF-α, and iNOS levels.
authors.affiliation: Altug Senol, Mehmet Isler, M Cem Kockar, Department of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta 32260, Turkey.
authors.forename: Altug
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senol
authors.affiliation: Altug Senol, Mehmet Isler, M Cem Kockar, Department of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta 32260, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isler
authors.affiliation: Altug Senol, Mehmet Isler, M Cem Kockar, Department of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta 32260, Turkey.
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutcu
authors.affiliation: Altug Senol, Mehmet Isler, M Cem Kockar, Department of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta 32260, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.affiliation: Altug Senol, Mehmet Isler, M Cem Kockar, Department of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta 32260, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.affiliation: Altug Senol, Mehmet Isler, M Cem Kockar, Department of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta 32260, Turkey.
authors.forename: Betul M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ceyhan
authors.affiliation: Altug Senol, Mehmet Isler, M Cem Kockar, Department of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta 32260, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Cem
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kockar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D043302:Cultured Milk Products; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D009195:Peroxidase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat
keywords: Colitis; Dextran sulfate sodium; Inflammatory bowel disease; Kefir; Probiotic