DIETARY MODULATION OF INTESTINAL BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS

Dietary modulation of intestinal bacterial infections should focus on strengthening the nonspecific gastric and intestinal defenses against bacteria, as this may inhibit the first encounter between host and pat hogen. This paper summarizes our controlled nutritional studies using Salmonella enteritidis as a model pathogen, and the rat as an animal m odel. Lactic acid in yoghurt and calcium in milk products inhibited th e gastrointestinal survival and colonisation of Salmonella, respective ly. We also studied whether diet affects translocation of Salmonella t o extra-intestinal organs. Intestinal fermentation of lactulose inhibi ted colonisation but not translocation of Salmonella. However, dietary calcium inhibited colonisation as well as translocation of this patho gen. This is probably due to the cytoprotective effects of calcium in the intestine, which may strengthen the mucosal barrier and/or stimula te the growth of protective intestinal bacteria, like lactobacilli. Th ese results indicate that lactic acid, nondigestible saccharides, and calcium can be functional ingredients in foods designed to inhibit int estinal infections. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .