Performance, health, bacterial metabolites and intestinal histomorphology in does and growing rabbits fed diets with increasing lignocellulose-to-cellulose proportions.

Adequate levels of dietary fibre can reduce the risk of intestinal health disorders in rabbits after weaning. Therefore, it was the aim of the study to investigate the impact of different lignocellulose and cellulose addition to rabbits' diets on performance and intestinal traits in lactating does and weaned rabbits. A total of 60 rabbit does (4.41 ± 0.45 kg body weight) were fed isonitrogenous diets with lignocellulose and cellulose inclusion rates [%] of 0/8, 2/6, 4/4, 6/2 and 8/0, resulting in dietary lignin-to-cellulose ratios of 0.26, 0.30, 0.32, 0.34 and 0.40, respectively. The diets were fed from 4 d ante partum (a.p.) until day 28 post partum (p.p. weaning). After weaning, 40 young rabbits from each feeding group were fed the same diets for 12 d, when 10 rabbits per group were sacrificed. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake and feed conversion ratio were obtained. Gastrointestinal content and gut tissue were obtained from the growing rabbits and pH, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration and gut morphology were investigated. Digestive disorders were scored, and the sanitary risk index was calculated. Does fed the highest lignocellulose addition increased their feed intake [g · kg BW-1 · d-1] in the first two weeks p.p. (p < 0.001) and increased BWG (p < 0.001) but without impact on their offsprings' performance. Weaned rabbits fed the highest lignocellulose inclusion showed a reduced feed intake and increased sanitary risk index. Additionally, a higher number of rabbits showed intestinal disorders for a short time (1-2 d, p < 0.001). In the colon content, a higher pH and a lower dry matter content were observed in this group. Caecal contents of 40-d old rabbits showed lower total SCFA, acetate and propionate and higher i-valerate and L-lactate concentrations after feeding diets with high lignocellulose contents. The diet did not influence the acetate-to-propionate ratio. No histomorphological changes were observed in the jejunum, while crypt depth and width were reduced in the caecum of weaned rabbits fed diets with lignocellulose addition. It can be concluded that different proportions of lignocellulose to cellulose addition to rabbits' diets have an impact on health and performance with differences between does and weaned rabbits. While a high lignocellulose inclusion proved beneficial for does, for weaned rabbits, a lower addition should be preferred.

[Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet - an alternative to exlusive enteral nutritional therapy in children and adolescents with Crohn's disease? Statement of the GPGE working groups CEDATA and Nutrition/Nutrition Medicine]. / Crohnʼs Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) als Alternative zur exklusiven Ernährungstherapie bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Morbus Crohn? Stellungnahme der Arbeitsgemeinschaften CEDATA und Ernährung/Diätetik/Ernährungsmedizin der Gesellschaft für pädiatrische Gastroenterologie und Ernährung e. V.

Epidemiological an clinical observations as well as results from animal studies indicate that nutrition can play a role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Exclusive enteral nutrition therapy represents an example for modulating inflammatory responses solely through diet modification. Therefore, caretakers, patients, families, doctors and nutritionists seek for more dietary options to control IBD. These options include partial enteral nutrition therapy as for example the socalled Crohn's disease exclusion diet. The following statement summarizes existing data and provides recommendations for the current management of enteral nutrition therapy in pediatric Crohn's disease.

Individualized vitamin A supplementation for patients with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To determine the vitamin A status and appropriate supplementation dosage of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who received vitamin A supplementation based on annual serum retinol measurements. METHODS: Vitamin A food intake, supplementation dosage, and serum retinol levels were obtained for 32 CF patients >4 years of age (4.3-27.3 years old) who had pancreatic insufficiency and mild-to-moderate lung disease (percent predicted of forced expiratory volume in 1 s > 40%). These measurements were compared with the dietary reference intake for healthy children and adults (D-A-CH dietary recommendations), US and German CF recommendations, and serum retinol concentrations from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. RESULTS: Total vitamin A intake from food and supplementation was 315% ± 182% of D-A-CH recommendations, with 65% from supplements. The range of the prescribed vitamin A supplementation dosage was 0-20,000 IU/day (median 5500 IU), and it was consistent with CF recommendations in 28% of participants. A quarter of all patients did not need any vitamin A supplementation. The total vitamin A intake exceeded the recommended upper limit of intake in 69% of subjects. The mean (range) serum retinol was 38.6 µg/dl (22.1-59.1 µg/dl). All subjects had serum retinol levels above 20 µg/dl and below 72 µg/dl (95th percentile of NHANES reference range). CONCLUSION: Individualized vitamin A supplementation of 0-20,000 IU/day based on annual serum retinol measurements may prevent deficiency and high serum retinol levels, but it may lead to vitamin A intake above the tolerable upper intake level.