Increasing the intestinal resistance of rats to the invasive pathogen Salmonella enteritidis: additive effects of dietary lactulose and calcium.

I M Bovee-Oudenhoven, D S Termont, P J Heidt, R Van der Meer

Department of Nutrition, Netherlands Institute for Dairy Research, Ede, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lactulose fermentation by the intestinal microflora acidifies the gut contents, resulting in an increased resistance to colonisation by acid sensitive pathogens. The extent of fermentation should be controlled to prevent acid induced epithelial cell damage. Considering the buffering capacity of calcium phosphate and its intestinal cytoprotective effects, whether supplemental calcium phosphate adds to the increased resistance to intestinal infections by lactulose fermentations was studied. METHODS: In a strictly controlled experiment, rats were fed a purified low calcium control diet, a low calcium/lactulose diet, or a high calcium/lactulose diet, and subsequently infected orally with Salmonella enteritidis. RESULTS: Lactulose fermentation lowered the pH and increased the lactic acid concentration of the intestinal contents, which significantly reduced excretion of this pathogen in faeces; thus it improved the resistance to colonisation. This agreed with the high sensitivity of S enteritidis to lactic acid (main metabolite of lactulose fermentation) in vitro. Calcium phosphate decreased translocation of S enteritidis to the systemic circulation, an effect independent of lactulose. The unfavourable increased cytotoxicity of faecal water caused by lactulose fermentation was more than counteracted by supplemental calcium phosphate. Moreover, calcium phosphate stimulated lactulose fermentation, as judged by the reduced lactulose excretion in faeces and increased lactic acid, ammonia, and faecal nitrogen excretion. CONCLUSION: Extra calcium phosphate added to a lactulose diet improves the resistance to colonisation and translocation of S enteritidis. This is probably mediated by a calcium induced stimulation of lactulose fermentation by the intestinal microflora and reversion of the lactulose mediated increased luminal cytotoxicity, which reduces damage inflicted on the intestinal mucosa.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Ito, H., Satsukawa, M., Arai, E., Sugiyama, K., Sonoyama, K., Kiriyama, S., Morita, T. (2009). Soluble Fiber Viscosity Affects Both Goblet Cell Number and Small Intestine Mucin Secretion in Rats. J. Nutr. 139: 1640-1647 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Metzler, B. U., Mosenthin, R., Baumgartel, T., Rodehutscord, M. (2008). The effect of dietary phosphorus and calcium level, phytase supplementation, and ileal infusion of pectin on the chemical composition and carbohydrase activity of fecal bacteria and the level of microbial metabolites in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. J ANIM SCI 86: 1544-1555 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Guarner, F. (2007). Studies with Inulin-Type Fructans on Intestinal Infections, Permeability, and Inflammation. J. Nutr. 137: 2568S-2571S [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Morita, T., Tanabe, H., Ito, H., Yuto, S., Matsubara, T., Matsuda, T., Sugiyama, K., Kiriyama, S. (2006). Increased Luminal Mucin Does Not Disturb Glucose or Ovalbumin Absorption in Rats Fed Insoluble Dietary Fiber. J. Nutr. 136: 2486-2491 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ten Bruggencate, S. J. M., Bovee-Oudenhoven, I. M. J., Lettink-Wissink, M. L. G., Katan, M. B., van der Meer, R. (2006). Dietary Fructooligosaccharides Affect Intestinal Barrier Function in Healthy Men. J. Nutr. 136: 70-74 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tanabe, H., Sugiyama, K., Matsuda, T., Kiriyama, S., Morita, T. (2005). Small Intestinal Mucins Are Secreted in Proportion to the Settling Volume in Water of Dietary Indigestible Components in Rats. J. Nutr. 135: 2431-2437 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ten Bruggencate, S. J. M., Bovee-Oudenhoven, I. M. J., Lettink-Wissink, M. L. G., Van der Meer, R. (2005). Dietary Fructooligosaccharides Increase Intestinal Permeability in Rats. J. Nutr. 135: 837-842 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ten Bruggencate, S J M, Bovee-Oudenhoven, I M J, Lettink-Wissink, M L G, Katan, M B, Van der Meer, R (2004). Dietary fructo-oligosaccharides and inulin decrease resistance of rats to salmonella: protective role of calcium. Gut 53: 530-535 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bovee-Oudenhoven, I M J, ten Bruggencate, S J M, Lettink-Wissink, M L G, van der Meer, R (2003). Dietary fructo-oligosaccharides and lactulose inhibit intestinal colonisation but stimulate translocation of salmonella in rats. Gut 52: 1572-1578 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Schroedl, W., Jaekel, L., Krueger, M. (2003). C-Reactive Protein and Antibacterial Activity in Blood Plasma of Colostrum-Fed Calves and the Effect of Lactulose. J DAIRY SCI 86: 3313-3320 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ten Bruggencate, S. J. M., Bovee-Oudenhoven, I. M. J., Lettink-Wissink, M. L. G., Van der Meer, R. (2003). Dietary Fructo-Oligosaccharides Dose-Dependently Increase Translocation of Salmonella in Rats. J. Nutr. 133: 2313-2318 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sprong, R. C., Hulstein, M. F. E., van der Meer, R. (2000). Quantifying Translocation of Listeria monocytogenes in Rats by Using Urinary Nitric Oxide-Derived Metabolites. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 5301-5305 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sprong, R. C., Hulstein, M. F., Van der Meer, R. (1999). High Intake of Milk Fat Inhibits Intestinal Colonization of Listeria but Not of Salmonella in Rats. J. Nutr. 129: 1382-1389 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bovee-Oudenhoven, I. M., Wissink, M. L., Wouters, J. T., Van der Meer, R. (1999). Dietary Calcium Phosphate Stimulates Intestinal Lactobacilli and Decreases the Severity of a Salmonella Infection in Rats. J. Nutr. 129: 607-612 [Abstract] [Full Text]