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Dietary inulin upregulates the expression of intestinal iron transporters, increases villus surface area, and alters microflora in iron deficient and adequate rats
Author(s) -
Tako Elad,
Glahn R.P,
Welch R.,
Lei X.,
Paul K.H,
Miller D.D
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a164
Subject(s) - inulin , ferroportin , ferritin , cecum , prebiotic , bifidobacterium , microbiology and biotechnology , lactobacillus , fructan , chemistry , gut flora , hepcidin , biology , food science , biochemistry , gene , fermentation , iron homeostasis , immunology , sucrose , ecology , inflammation
Inulin, a linear beta fructan present in a variety of plants, exhibits prebiotic properties. The aim of this study was to assess dietary inulin effects on the expression of genes that encode for selected intestinal iron transporters, on villus surface area and on several microbiota genera. Iron deficient and iron adequate rats were fed a diet containing either 0, 4 or 8% supplemental inulin (n=9). At day 30, animals were killed and cecum contents and sections of tissue from the duodenum were collected for analysis of microbial populations and gene expression, respectively. Semi quantitative RT‐PCR used to evaluate relative expression of DMT1, ferritin and ferroportin. DMT1 and ferroportin expressions were higher (P<0.05) in 0% inulin groups compared to inulin supplemented groups. Ferritin expression increased (P<0.05) in 4% and 8% inulin groups compared to 0% inulin. In both iron adequate and deficient rats, dietary inulin increased (P<0.05) intestinal villus surface area. For bacterial analysis, we used cecal contents bacterial DNA and specific primers directed at 4 bacterial genera: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, E. Coli and Clostridium. Lactobacillus populations increased (P<0.05) in the 8% inulin groups compared to others. Bifidobacterium populations increased in the 4% and 8 % inulin groups of the iron adequate rats. Inulin had no effect on E.Coli or Clostridium populations. These results suggest that the inulin effects on bacterial genera, villus surface area and genes encoding for iron transporters are possible mechanisms whereby inulin enhances iron absorption by enterocytes.