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Quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Seeds Increase Intestinal Protein Uptake
Author(s) -
Ballegaard AnneSofie Ravn,
Larsen Jeppe Madura,
Rasmussen Peter Have,
Untersmayr Eva,
Pilegaard Kirsten,
Bøgh Katrine Lindholm
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.202100102
Subject(s) - chenopodium quinoa , intestinal permeability , in vivo , biology , barrier function , cholera toxin , inflammation , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology
Scope Within the last decade, quinoa seeds have gained much popularity as a new food and have recently been proposed as an appropriate food for early introduction in infants. Quinoa contains high levels of saponins, which are known for their adjuvant activity and effect on the intestinal barrier function. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of quinoa on intestinal permeability and inflammation in comparison with the positive controls; cholera toxin (CT), and capsaicin. Methods and results The effect of quinoa on intestinal barrier function and inflammation is investigated in vitro using a Caco‐2 cell line and in vivo using a Brown Norway rat model. Effects in vivo are analyzed by protein uptake, histology, gene expression, antibody levels, and flow cytometry. Quinoa and the positive controls all increased the intestinal permeability, but distinct patterns of absorbed protein are observed in the epithelium, Peyer's patches, lamina propria, and serum. The quinoa‐mediated effect on intestinal barrier function is found to be distinct from the effect of the two positive controls. Conclusion The findings demonstrate the ability of quinoa to increase intestinal permeability and to promote compartment‐specific protein uptake via mechanisms that may differ from CT and capsaicin.