Dietary lipids influence intestinal adaptation after massive bowel resection

Background: Certain lipids, primarily long chain fatty acids and especially long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) from marine oils, stimula te gut adaptation after resection. The goal of this study was to define the degree of resection that provides an optimal model for adaptation and to d etermine if dietary LCPUFAs improve intestinal adaptation after resection. Methods: One hundred and fifty-g male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups receiving 60%, 70%, and 80% bowel resection. After resection, each group was subdivided into two dietary groups and pair fed diets containing either safflower oil or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic (AA). Results: After 2 weeks, mucosal mass, protein, DNA, and di-saccharidase act ivity were measured in the remaining intestine. Rats receiving 80% resectio n responded with the highest level of intestinal adaptation. Within the 80% resection group, diet containing DKA and AA stimulated adaptation signific antly more than safflower diet. A second study further evaluated the effect on LCPUFAs on intestinal adaptation. Diets included a control group 10% so y oil, and three diets differing in their AA-DHA fat blend ratio at 5% AA a nd 3.3% DHA, 15% AA and 10% DHA, and 45% AA and 30% DHA. The addition of LC PUFAs to diets enhanced intestinal adaptation in a linear, dose-dependent m anner after an 80% small bowel resection. Rats fed a diet containing 30% DH A-45% AA had significantly enhanced mucosal mass compared to rats fed a die t containing 10% soy oil, and considerably higher compared to rats fed 3.3% DHA-5% AA. Conclusions: These studies suggest that modification of dietary LCPUFAs may enhance intestinal adaptation in short bowel syndrome.