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Dietary Red Meat Aggravates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice Whereas Resistant Starch Attenuates Inflammation

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Abstract

Background

Although a genetic component has been identified as a risk factor for developing inflammatory bowel disease, there is evidence that dietary factors also play a role in the development of this disease.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of feeding a red meat diet with and without resistant starch (RS) to mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.

Methods

Colonic experimental colitis was induced in Balb/c mice using DSS. The severity of colitis was evaluated based on a disease activity index (based on bodyweight loss, stool consistency, rectal bleeding, and overall condition of the animal) and a histological score. Estimations were made of numbers of a range of different bacteria in the treatment pools of cecal digesta using quantitative real-time PCR.

Results

Consumption of a diet high in red meat increased DSS-induced colitis as evidenced by higher disease activity and histopathological scores. Addition of RS to the red meat diet exerted a beneficial effect in acute DSS-induced colitis. Subjective analysis of numbers of a range of bacterial targets suggest changes in the gut microbiota abundance were induced by red meat and RS treatments and these changes could contribute to the reported outcomes.

Conclusions

A dietary intake of red meat aggravates DSS-induced colitis whereas co-consumption of resistant starch reduces the severity of colitis.

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Abbreviations

DSS:

Dextran sulfate sodium

RS:

Resistant starch

RM:

Red meat

IBD:

Inflammatory bowel disease

UC:

Ulcerative colitis

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

SCFA:

Short chain fatty acids

AIN:

American Institute of Nutrition

Hi-maize:

High amylose maize starch

DAI:

Disease activity index

SRB:

Sulfate-reducing bacteria

aps:

Adenosine-5-phosphosulfate reductase gene

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (grant ID 535079) and CSIRO Preventative Health National Research Flagship.

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Correspondence to Richard K. Le Leu.

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Le Leu, R.K., Young, G.P., Hu, Y. et al. Dietary Red Meat Aggravates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice Whereas Resistant Starch Attenuates Inflammation. Dig Dis Sci 58, 3475–3482 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2844-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2844-1

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