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Feeding an Elemental Diet vs a Milk‐Based Formula Does Not Decrease Intestinal Mucosal Growth in Infant Pigs
Author(s) -
Stoll Barbara,
Price Pamela T.,
Reeds Peter J.,
Chang Xiaoyan,
Henry Josef F.,
Goudoever Johannes B.,
Holst Jens J.,
Burrin Douglas G.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/014860710603000132
Subject(s) - lactase , glucagon like peptide 2 , crypt , lactose , enteral administration , medicine , parenteral nutrition , biology , endocrinology , short bowel syndrome , intestinal mucosa , biochemistry , peptide
Background: We previously showed that the level of enteral nutrient intake determines the rate of intestinal growth in piglets. Our objective was to determine whether providing enteral nutrition in the form of elemental nutrients (glucose, amino acids, lipid [ED]) rather than cow's milk formula (lactose, protein, lipid [FORM]) reduces small intestinal growth and lactase activity. Methods: Three‐week‐old piglets were fed either ED (n = 7) intragastrically or FORM (n = 6) orally for 6 days. Results: Intestinal protein and DNA masses, villus height, and crypt depth were not different in ED and FORM pigs. Crypt cell proliferation, measured by in vivo bromodeoxyuridine labeling, was significantly ( p < .05) higher (+37%) in ED than in FORM pigs. Rates of mucosal protein synthesis (%/d), measured by in vivo 2 H‐leucine incorporation, were higher ( p < .05) in ED than FORM (147 vs 89) pigs. Circulating concentrations (pmol/L) of the intestinotrophic peptide, glucagon‐like peptide‐2 (GLP‐2), were also higher ( p < .05) in ED than in FORM (148 vs 87) pigs. The mean lactase‐specific activity (μmol/min/g) in proximal and distal segments was higher ( p < .05) in FORM than in ED (124 vs 58) pigs. Conclusions: We conclude that intestinal mucosal growth and villus morphology are similar in pigs fed ED and FORM, despite higher cell proliferation and protein synthesis rates and lower lactase activity with ED. This implies that elemental diets may be as trophic as polymeric formulas to simultaneously provide nutrition and a stimulus for intestinal growth during bowel rest.