Small-Intestinal Changes Induced by an Elemental Diet (Vivonex) in Normal Rats

Abstract

1. Rats were fed with the elemental diet Vivonex for 1 or 3 months and their jejunal histology was compared with that of an equal number of rats fed on a normal diet. 2. After 1 month of Vivonex feeding a significant reduction in the ratio of crypt height: villus height (CH:VH) was found in the Vivonex-fed rats (n = 4) compared with the control rats (n = 4) (P less than 0.05). 3. After 3 months the CH:VH ratio was also reduced in the Vivonex-fed rats (n = 18) compared with control rats (n = 18) (P less than 0.002). Villus height was significantly increased (P less than 0.002) and crypt height decreased (P less than 0.05). 4. Jejunal protein content, alkaline phosphatase and disaccharidase activity were also determined in 12 control and 12 Vivonex-fed rats from the 3 months study. 5. Alkaline phosphatase activity was increased from a control value of 201 +/- 8 to 243 +/- 15 munits/cm in the Vivonex-fed rats (n = 12) (P less than 0.05) but no significant changes in lactase, sucrase or maltase activites were found. The observed decrease in the CH:VH ratio suggested an improved survival of the mature enterocyte population during elemental diet feeding.

Feeding an Elemental Diet vs a Milk‐Based Formula Does Not Decrease Intestinal Mucosal Growth in Infant Pigs

“…In weaned rodents, feeding EDs often resulted in ileal and colonic atrophy, whereas jejunal mass and villus height were preserved or increased. [15][16][17][18] Furthermore, due to the diminished nutrient flow into the distal gut and therefore alteration of the intestinal microflora, ED had been implicated to weaken gut integrity by increasing intestinal permeability and susceptibility to bacterial overgrowth and translocation, which can be, at least partially, prevented by supplementing dietary fiber. 19 -23 In contrast, Babakissa and colleagues 24 found no difference between the cecal bacterial populations of EDs and formula-fed rats.…”

Effect of Oral Nutrition on the Form and Function of the Intestinal Tract

“…The addition of nonabsorbable bulk to the defined formula diets was observed to be associated with an increase in colonic mass equal to that observed in chow-fed animals [108,138], After a 4-week administration of Vivonex to rats, there was a 75% decrease in the cell population of the colonic mucosa, associated with decreases in mitotic and DNA synthesis activity [68]. Intravenous and oral fluid administration of an elemental diet was associated with a 25% loss of colonic weight as well as a decline in mucosal DNA synthesis as compared with animals fed chow.…”

“…The effects of these defined formula diets on intestinal morphology or function is limited [85]: rats were fed Vivonex and after 3 months there was a 31% increase in villus height and a 15% decrease in crypt height [108]. Alkaline phosphatase activity was in creased about 25% but there were no changes in lactase, sucrase or maltase activities.…”

Effect of an Elemental Diet (Vivonex) on the Absorption Abnormalities and Histological Appearances of the Jejunum in Untreated Adult Coeliac Disease

“…The elemental diet Vivonex has been shown to increase the ratio of villous to crypt height in the jejunum of normal rats and also to increase alkaline phosphatase activity in the jeju nal mucosa (7). Elemental diets have also been shown to speed intestinal adaptation after mas sive small bowel resection (13,14) and may pro tect the mucosa against damaging influences such as radiation (4,5).…”

“…The elemental diet Vivo nex has also been shown to increase villous: crypt height ratios in the jejunum of normal rats (7).…”