SUPPLEMENTATION OF ENTERAL NUTRITION WITH BUTYRATE LEADS TO INCREASEDPORTAL EFFLUX OF AMINO-ACIDS IN GROWING PIGS WITH SHORT-BOWEL SYNDROME

Previously, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) infused into the hindgut o r administered intravenously have been shown to stimulate intestinal a daptation after massive small bowel resection. To study the effects of enterally supplemented n-butyrate on food digestion and absorption in growing pigs with short bowel syndrome, the authors examined the port al efflux of glucose and amino acids during a meal. In 12 growing pigs , 75% of the small intestine was resected. Five control (CONT) animals underwent transection and reanastomosis of the small bower. A splenic vein, the aorta, the portal vein, and the stomach were catheterized. Postoperatively, seven enterectomized (ENT) pigs and the CONT pigs wer e fed by infusion of a liquid diet, without SCFAs, through the gastros tomy catheter. Five enterectomized animals received the same diet, sup plemented with butyrate (ENTB) (0.26 g/kg body weight/d). After 3 week s, the portal efflux of amino acids and glucose was measured after 2 h ours of constant feeding. The portal efflux of glucose expressed per k ilogram of body weight in the ENT group was 10% of that in the CONT gr oup, and in the ENTB group it was 42%. No significant difference in po rtal glucose efflux between the ENT and the ENTB groups was found. The portal efflux of amino acids during a meal in the ENT group in relati on to the CONT group was 34%; in the ENTB group it was 63%. These data suggest that enteral supplementation with SCFAs leads to improvement of intestinal food digestion and absorption during short bower syndrom e, possibly related to improved intestinal adaptation. (C) 1996 by W.B . Saunders Company