Dietary oligofructose and inulin modulate immune functions in mice

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 257 - 267
• Main Authors: Kelly-Quagliana, K.A, Nelson, P.D, Buddington, R.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; cellulose; diet; dose response; fructooligosaccharides; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; immune response; Immunobiology; immunoglobulin A; Immunomodulation; Inulin; leukocyte count; macrophages; Mice; Modulation of the immune response (stimulation, suppression); natural killer cells; Nondigestible oligosaccharides; Oligofructose; phagocytosis; spleen; splenocytes; TH1 shift; thymus gland; Nondigestible oligosaccharides; Mice; TH1 shift; Immunomodulation; Oligofructose; Inulin; Immune response; Oligosaccharide; Rodentia; THI shift; Cellular immunity; Immune regulation; Supplemented diet; Fructose; Feeding; Natural killer cell; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Carbohydrate; Phagocytosis; Digestibility; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/S0271-5317(02)00516-X

Host defense functions are responsive to diet composition. Since inulin and oligofructose increase resistance to health challenges, selected systemic immune variables were measured in B6C3F1 mice fed diets containing 10g/100g cellulose (C) or with cellulose replaced entirely with oligofructose (OF) or inulin (I), or partially (2.5 g) with oligofructose (C-OF). White blood cell counts for all groups were within normal ranges, but were 100% higher ( P < 0.05) in C mice compared to mice fed fructan-containing diets, which had similar counts. Spleen mass, CD4/CD8 and T/B ratios from suspensions of spleen and thymus, and fecal IgA concentrations did not differ among groups. OF and I mice had higher natural killer cell activity of splenocytes and greater phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages. Apparently oligofructose and inulin do not elicit an increase or redistribution of the examined lymphocyte populations (CD4/CD8 and T/B), but up-regulate macrophage-dependent (T-helper 1 type) immune responses in a dose-dependent manner.