Protease Inhibitors Protect Bovine Colostrum or Chicken Egg Growth Factors from Pancreatic Enzyme Digestion in AGS Cells or Colitic Rats.

BACKGROUND: Bovine colostrum (BC) and chicken egg contain proteins possessing growth factor activity. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) provides much of the pro-reparative activity within BC. Clinical use of orally administered peptide growth factors is hampered by digestion from pancreatic proteases. OBJECTIVES: We examined whether adding a protease inhibitor [soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) or ovomucoid] protected bioactivity of BC ± egg or EGF alone against pancreatic digestion using in vitro and in vivo models. METHODS: BC, egg, or EGF alone or in combination with trypsin inhibitors were tested for proliferative (Alamar blue) activity using human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells, prior to and after incubation with HCl/pepsin and trypsin/chymotrypsin. Data were analyzed using 2-factor ANOVA. Eight groups (n = 10) of adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (mean: 188.3 ± 0.8 g) received 20 mg/kg/d of BC + egg, 100 µg/d of EGF, 5 mg/d ovomucoid, or 10.8 mg/d SBTI, alone or in combination (in 1 mL 3% NaHCO3) by gavage for 9 d and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS; 5% in drinking water) for the final 7 d. Histology, microscopic damage score, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were assessed and analyzed using 1-factor ANOVA. RESULTS: Proliferative activities of BC, egg, or EGF were reduced 40-57% by HCl/pepsin exposure and further reduced 14-24% by chymotrypsin/trypsin. Co-addition of SBTI or ovomucoid truncated the decrease in proliferative bioactivity caused by chymotrypsin/trypsin by 54-100% (P < 0.01). In vivo study showed oral EGF alone or protease inhibitors given alone were ineffective in reducing DSS damage, whereas SBTI with EGF or ovomucoid with BC + egg improved protective effects on weight gain, disease activity score, colonic MPO, and histology damage by 3-4-fold (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Studies using AGS, cells, and Sprague-Dawley rats showed the protease inhibitors ovomucoid and SBTI protected BC, egg, and EGF against loss of bioactivity due to pancreatic enzymes and, when given with NaHCO3, enhanced colonic protection against DSS damage.

Dietary Milk-Fat-Globule Membrane Affects Resistance to Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in Healthy Adults in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study.

BACKGROUND: The milk-fat-globule membrane (MFGM) contains phospholipids and membrane glycoproteins that have been shown to affect pathogen colonization and gut barrier integrity. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we determined whether commercial heat-treated MFGM can increase resistance to diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 4-wk parallel-intervention study was conducted in healthy adults. Participants were randomly assigned to a milk protein concentrate rich in MFGM [10 g Lacprodan PL-20 (Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S), twice daily; n = 30; MFGM group) or a control [10 g Miprodan 30 (sodium caseinate), twice daily; n = 28]. After 2 wk, participants were orally challenged with live, attenuated diarrheagenic E. coli (10(10) colony-forming units). Primary outcomes were infection-induced diarrhea and fecal diarrheagenic E. coli excretion. Secondary outcomes were gastrointestinal symptoms [Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)], stool frequency, and stool consistency (Bristol Stool Scale). RESULTS: Diarrheagenic E. coli resulted in increased fecal output, lower relative fecal dry weight, increased fecal E. coli numbers, and an increase in stool frequency and gastrointestinal complaints at day 1 after challenge. MFGM significantly decreased the E. coli-induced changes in reported stool frequency (1.1 ± 0.1 stools/d in the MFGM group; 1.6 ± 0.2 stools/d in the control group; P = 0.04) and gastrointestinal complaints at day 2 (1.1 ± 0.5 and 2.5 ± 0.6 GSRS scores in the MFGM and control groups, respectively; P = 0.05). MFGM did not affect fecal wet weight and E. coli excretion at day 2 after challenge. CONCLUSIONS: The attenuated diarrheagenic E. coli strain transiently induced mild symptoms of a food-borne infection, with complete recovery of reported clinical symptoms within 2 d. The present diarrheagenic E. coli challenge trial conducted in healthy adults indicates that a milk concentrate rich in natural, bioactive phospho- and sphingolipids from the MFGM may improve in vivo resistance to diarrheagenic E. coli. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01800396.

Functional role and mechanisms of sialyllactose and other sialylated milk oligosaccharides.

Human milk is a rich source of oligosaccharides. Acidic oligosaccharides, such as sialyllactose (SL), contain sialic acid (SA) residues. In human milk, approximately 73% of SA is bound to oligosaccharides, whereas only 3% is present in free form. Oligosaccharides are highly resistant to hydrolysis in the gastrointestinal tract. Only a small portion of the available oligosaccharides in breast milk is absorbed in the neonatal small intestine. SL and sialylated oligosaccharides are thought to have significant health benefits for the neonate, because of their roles in supporting resistance to pathogens, gut maturation, immune function, and cognitive development. The need for SA to allow proper development during the neonatal period is thought to exceed the endogenous synthesis. Therefore, these structures are important nutrients for the neonate. Based on the potential benefits, SL and sialylated oligosaccharides may be interesting components for application in infant nutrition. Once the hurdle of limited availability of these oligosaccharides has been overcome, their functionality can be explored in more detail, and supplementation of infant formula may become feasible.

Dietary galacto-oligosaccharides and calcium: effects on energy intake, fat-pad weight and satiety-related, gastrointestinal hormones in rats.

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are carbohydrates that are fermented by colonic microbiota. The present study examined effects of a 3-week dietary enrichment with 6 % (w/w) GOS on parameters of energy balance in forty-three male Wistar rats. GOS was tested with two doses of calcium phosphate (30 and 100 mmol/kg), known to differently affect colonic fermentation. After 17 d, isoenergetic test meals were presented and plasma responses of ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) were measured. On day 21 (study termination) epididymal fat pads and caecum were weighed. Additionally, gastrointestinal mucosal samples and proximal colonic contents were analysed for gene expression (ghrelin, proglucagon and PYY) and fermentation metabolites (SCFA and lactate), respectively. GOS reduced energy intake most prominently during the first week, without provoking compensatory overeating later on (average intake reduction: 14 %). The GOS-fed rats showed increased caecal and reduced fat-pad weight and increased gene expression of the satiety-related peptides, PYY (1.7-fold) and proglucagon (3.5-fold). Pre-meal baseline and post-meal plasma levels of PYY, but not of ghrelin or GLP-1, were higher in GOS-fed rats than in control rats. Ca enrichment resulted in higher energy intake (average 4.5 %). GOS diets increased lactic acid levels and slightly reduced butyric acid in proximal colonic contents. Ca abolished the GOS-related elevation of lactic acid, while increasing propionic acid levels, but did not inhibit GOS-related effects on energy intake, fat-pad weight or gene expression. These results indicate that dietary GOS stimulate a number of physiological mechanisms that can reduce energy intake, regardless of the calcium phosphate content of the diet.

The protective effect of supplemental calcium on colonic permeability depends on a calcium phosphate-induced increase in luminal buffering capacity.

An increased intestinal permeability is associated with several diseases. Previously, we have shown that dietary Ca decreases colonic permeability in rats. This might be explained by a calcium-phosphate-induced increase in luminal buffering capacity, which protects against an acidic pH due to microbial fermentation. Therefore, we investigated whether dietary phosphate is a co-player in the effect of Ca on permeability. Rats were fed a humanised low-Ca diet, or a similar diet supplemented with Ca and containing either high, medium or low phosphate concentrations. Chromium-EDTA was added as an inert dietary intestinal permeability marker. After dietary adaptation, short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) were added to all diets to stimulate fermentation, acidify the colonic contents and induce an increase in permeability. Dietary Ca prevented the scFOS-induced increase in intestinal permeability in rats fed medium- and high-phosphate diets but not in those fed the low-phosphate diet. This was associated with higher faecal water cytotoxicity and higher caecal lactate levels in the latter group. Moreover, food intake and body weight during scFOS supplementation were adversely affected by the low-phosphate diet. Importantly, luminal buffering capacity was higher in rats fed the medium- and high-phosphate diets compared with those fed the low-phosphate diet. The protective effect of dietary Ca on intestinal permeability is impaired if dietary phosphate is low. This is associated with a calcium phosphate-induced increase in luminal buffering capacity. Dragging phosphate into the colon and thereby increasing the colonic phosphate concentration is at least part of the mechanism behind the protective effect of Ca on intestinal permeability.

Efficacy of various dietary calcium salts to improve intestinal resistance to Salmonella infection in rats.

Previous animal and human studies have shown protective effects of Ca on the resistance to enteropathogenic infections. Most interventions were performed with calcium phosphate and little is known about the protective effect of other dietary sources of Ca. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of several Ca salts to enhance intestinal resistance to Salmonella enteritidis infection. Rats (n 7-8 per group) were fed a high-fat, Western human-style, purified diet with a low Ca content (20 mmol calcium phosphate/kg; negative control group) or the same diet supplemented with either (extra) calcium phosphate, milk Ca, calcium chloride or calcium carbonate (total of 100 mmol Ca supplement/kg). Diets contained Cr-EDTA for assessment of incremental changes in intestinal permeability. After an adaptation period of 2 weeks, animals were orally infected with S. enteritidis to mimic a human-relevant foodborne infection. Ca supplement-induced changes on faecal lactobacilli and enterobacteria were studied before infection. Changes in intestinal permeability were determined by measuring urinary Cr with time. Persistence of Salmonella was determined by studying faecal excretion of this pathogen in time. Overall, all Ca salts increased resistance towards Salmonella. After infection, body weight gain and food intake were higher in the calcium phosphate group. Calcium phosphate and milk Ca decreased faecal enterobacteria before infection. All Ca salts decreased infection-induced intestinal permeability and persistence of Salmonella. Calcium phosphate, milk Ca, calcium carbonate and calcium chloride are able to enhance the intestinal resistance to Salmonella in rats.

Dietary fructooligosaccharides affect intestinal barrier function in healthy men.

In contrast to most expectations, we showed previously that dietary fructooligosaccharides (FOS) stimulate intestinal colonization and translocation of invasive Salmonella enteritidis in rats. Even before infection, FOS increased the cytotoxicity of fecal water, mucin excretion, and intestinal permeability. In the present study, we tested whether FOS has these effects in humans. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of 2 x 2 wk, with a washout period of 2 wk, was performed with 34 healthy men. Each day, subjects consumed lemonade containing either 20 g FOS or placebo and the intestinal permeability marker chromium EDTA (CrEDTA). On the last 2 d of each supplement period, subjects scored their gastrointestinal complaints on a visual analog scale and collected feces and urine for 24 h. Fecal lactic acid was measured using a colorimetric enzymatic kit. The cytotoxicity of fecal water was determined with an in vitro bioassay, fecal mucins were quantified fluorimetrically, and intestinal permeability was determined by measuring urinary CrEDTA excretion. In agreement with our animal studies, FOS fermentation increased fecal wet weight, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and lactic acid. Consumption of FOS increased flatulence and intestinal bloating. In addition, FOS consumption doubled fecal mucin excretion, indicating mucosal irritation. However, FOS did not affect the cytotoxicity of fecal water and intestinal permeability. The FOS-induced increase in mucin excretion in our human study suggests mucosal irritation in humans, but the overall effects are more moderate than those in rats.

Dietary fructooligosaccharides increase intestinal permeability in rats.

We showed previously that fructooligosaccharides (FOS) decrease the resistance to salmonella infection in rats. However, the mechanism responsible for this effect is unclear. Therefore, we examined whether dietary FOS affects intestinal permeability before and after infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. Male Wistar rats were fed restricted quantities of a purified diet that mimicked the composition of a Western human diet. The diet was supplemented with 60 g/kg cellulose (control) or 60 g/kg FOS and with 4 mmol/kg of the intestinal permeability marker chromium EDTA (CrEDTA) (n = 8 or 10). After an adaptation period of 2 wk, rats were orally infected with 10(8) colony-forming units (cfu) of S. enteritidis. Mucin concentrations in intestinal contents and mucosa were measured fluorimetrically, as markers of mucosal irritation. Intestinal permeability was determined by measuring urinary CrEDTA excretion. Translocation of salmonella was quantified by analysis of urinary nitric oxide metabolites with time. Before infection, FOS increased mucosal lactobacilli and enterobacteria in cecum and colon, but not in the ileum. However, FOS increased cytotoxicity of fecal water and intestinal permeability. Moreover, FOS increased fecal mucin excretion and mucin concentrations in cecal and colonic contents, and in cecal mucosa before infection. After infection, mucin excretion and intestinal permeability in the FOS groups increased even further in contrast to the control group. In addition, FOS increased translocation of salmonella to extraintestinal sites. Thus, FOS impairs the intestinal barrier in rats, as indicated by higher intestinal permeability. Whether these results can be extrapolated to humans requires further investigation.

Dietary fructo-oligosaccharides dose-dependently increase translocation of salmonella in rats.

Prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), stimulate the protective gut microflora, resulting in an increased production of organic acids. This may result in increased luminal killing of acid-sensitive pathogens. However, host defense against invasive pathogens, like salmonella, also depends on the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa. Rapid fermentation of prebiotics leading to high concentrations of organic acids may impair the barrier function. Therefore, we determined the dose-dependent effect of dietary FOS on the resistance of rats to Salmonella enteritidis. Male Wistar rats were fed restricted quantities of a "humanized" purified diet supplemented with 0, 3 or 6 g/100 g of FOS (n = 7 in the 6% FOS group and n = 8 in the other diet groups). After an adaptation period of 2 wk, rats were orally infected with 1.7 x 10(10) colony-forming units of S. enteritidis. Supplement-induced changes in the intestinal microflora and fecal cation excretion were determined before and after infection. Cytotoxicity of fecal water was determined with an in vitro bioassay, and fecal mucins were quantified fluorimetrically. Colonization of S. enteritidis was determined by quantification of salmonella in cecal contents and mucosa. Translocation of S. enteritidis was quantified by analysis of urinary nitric oxide metabolites in time. Before infection, FOS decreased cecal and fecal pH, increased fecal lactic acid concentration and increased bifidobacteria and enterobacteria. FOS also increased cytotoxicity of fecal water and fecal mucin excretion, indicating mucosal irritation. Remarkably, FOS dose-dependently increased salmonella numbers in cecal contents and mucosa and caused a major increase in infection-induced diarrhea. In addition, FOS enhanced translocation of salmonella. Thus, in contrast to most expectations, FOS dose-dependently impairs the resistance to salmonella infection in rats. These results await verification by other controlled animal and human studies.