title: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate decreases colonic inflammation and permeability in a mouse model of colitis, but reduces macronutrient digestion and exacerbates weight loss.
abstract: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been reported to have putative health effects including the prevention of inflammation and obesity. Historically, polyphenols have been regarded as antinutritionals and while such effects may be beneficial in obese subjects, they may be deleterious in nutritionally compromised individuals.
  
  
  
  We examined the effect of EGCG in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mouse model of ulcerative colitis. Following induction of colitis, mice were treated with EGCG (3.2 mg/g) as the sole source of drinking fluid for 3 days. EGCG treatment mitigated DSS-induced colon shortening and spleen enlargement. EGCG also decreased colonic protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as colonic lipid peroxides compared to DSS-treated controls. We observed that EGCG reduced DSS-induced gastrointestinal permeability. These beneficial effects were offset by enhanced body weight loss in EGCG-treated mice compared to DSS-treated controls. These effects were related to decreased protein and lipid digestion in EGCG-treated mice compared to DSS-treated controls.
  
  
  
  Our results suggest that although EGCG may exert anti-inflammatory effects, its ability to modulate macronutrient digestion may represent a dose-limiting adverse effect that must be considered in the context of its use for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary T
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Bitzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Matam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vijay-Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. jdl134@psu.edu.|Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. jdl134@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C491768:Ccl2 protein, mouse; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D002392:Catechin; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate
keywords: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate; Antinutritional effects; Gastrointestinal permeability; Green tea; Intestinal inflammation