Physiological and Anti‐Inflammatory Roles of Dietary Fiber and Butyrate in Intestinal Functions

Abstract

Background: We investigated the effects of pectin, a soluble dietary fiber, on the morphological parameters of the small intestine. In addition, we tested the effects of butyrate enemas on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced experimental colitis. Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed an elemental diet containing 2.5% pectin for 14 days, and several parameters were then determined. DSS‐induced colitis was evoked by the oral administration of water containing 3% DSS for 10 days. The butyrate enema (3 mL of 100 mmol/L butyrate per day) was begun 7 days before the DSS treatment. Interleukin (IL)‐8 secretion in the human intestinal epithelial cell line HT‐29 was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Pectin feeding induced a significant increase in the villus height and crypt depth in the small intestine. These effects correlated with a significant increase in plasma enteroglucagon levels. Pretreatment with a butyrate enema significantly blocked the development of DSS‐induced experimental colitis. In the in vitro experiment, sodium butyrate dose‐dependently inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α‐induced IL‐8 secretion in HT‐29 cells. Conclusions: A trophic effect due to dietary fiber was directly observed. The generation of short‐chain fatty acids and the induction of enteroglucagon release might play an important role in this process. Butyrate, one of the major metabolites of dietary fiber, exerted a potent anti‐inflammatory effect both in vivo and in vitro. Dietary fiber may therefore play important roles in the regulation of normal and pathological conditions in the intestine. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition23:S70‐S73, 1999)