ELEMENTAL DIET-INDUCED BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION CAN BE HORMONALLY MODULATED

Background The authors have previously documented that feeding mice an elemental diet resulted in bacterial translocation (BT) that could be prevented by the provision of dietary fiber. To test whether the prot ective effect of fiber was related to the stimulation of trophic gut h ormones, the effects of sandostatin and bombesin were tested. Methods Mice fed either chow or the elemental diet were stratified into severa l groups and the ability of bombesin (10 mug/kg, tid) or sandostatin ( 100 mug/kg bid) to modulate BT was examined. After 14 days, mice were sacrificed and BT, cecal bacterial population levels, mucosal protein, and small bowel weight was measured. Segments of the ileum and jejunu m were examined histologically. Results Incidence of elemental diet-in duced BT (75%) was reduced by fiber (9%) or the administration of bomb esin (13%) (p < 0.01). Although sandostatin did not promote BT in chow -fed mice, it reversed the protective effect of fiber on BT (75%) (p < 0.01). Conclusion Elemental diet-induced bacterial translocation can be modulated hormonally and the beneficial effects of fiber on diet-in duced BT appears to be hormonally mediated.