Effect of dietary fibers preparations on intestinal mucosa from animals submitted to different models of colitis and duodenal ulcer

• Grant number: 06/00250-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: December 01, 2006 - February 28, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Alba Regina Monteiro Souza Brito
• Grantee: Alba Regina Monteiro Souza Brito
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), encompassing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are caused by chronic inflammation. The etiology of these patologies remains uncertain, but genetic, environmental, microbians and immulogic factors are involved with it. Glucorticoids and sulphasalazine are utilized on IBDs treatment, although present several adverse effects. According to previous studies, a diet rich in fibers improves the quality of life of ulcerative colitis and Crohn´s disease patients, due to fibers fermentation by colonic bacterium. This fermentation results in a production of short-chain free acids (SCFA: mainly acetate, propionate and butyrate), which have been reported to be major fuels for colonic epithelial cells and to accelerate the epithelial cells proliferation. Thus, an increasing on the availability of these acids not only may re-establish the mucosa integrity, but also contributes to inflamation reduction. Antioxidant and antiinflamotory compounds, like flavonoids and carotenoids, are involved in IBDs prevetion and recovery of instestinal mucosal, since these substances can scavenge free radicals, increase the antioxidant enzymes activity and inhibit the pro-inflamatory factors production as TNF-alpha, nitric oxide and trancriptional factor, NF-kB. Thus, the aim of this work is to evaluate the protector effects of fibers, and its action mechanisms, on intestinal mucosa from animals submitted to colitis and duodenal ulcers models. Later, data should be used to develop a nutraceutical. (AU)