Dietary pectin stimulates protein metabolism in the digestive tract

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 69 - 75
• Main Authors: Pirman, Tatjana, Ph.D, Ribeyre, Marie Claude, Mosoni, Laurent, Ph.D, Rémond, Didier, Ph.D, Vrecl, Milka, Ph.D, Salobir, Janez, Ph.D, Patureau Mirand, Philippe, Agr.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 2007; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: animal models; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Isotopes; cecum; Cell growth; Colon; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diet; Dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; Dietary Fiber - pharmacology; DNA; Efficiency; Fatty Acids, Volatile - biosynthesis; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; gastrointestinal motility; Growth rate; histochemistry; intestinal physiology; Intestine histology; Intestines - drug effects; Intestines - growth & development; Intestines - metabolism; Intestines - pathology; Life Sciences; Male; Metabolism; Molecular weight; nutrient intake; Organ Size; Pectin; pectins; Pectins - administration & dosage; Pectins - pharmacology; Physiology; Protein Biosynthesis - drug effects; Protein metabolism; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Proteins - drug effects; Proteins - metabolism; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; rectum; Rodents; rumen fermentation; Short-chain fatty acids; Small intestine; Solubility; tissue analysis; Valine - metabolism; Valine - pharmacokinetics; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; France; Intestine histology; Short-chain fatty acids; Protein metabolism; Pectin; Dietary fiber; Short chain; Digestive system; Gut; Lipids; Histology; Metabolism; Fatty acids; Protein; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Digestive tract; HISTOLOGIE; PECTIN; PROTEIN METABOLISM; SHORT-CHAIN FATTY ACID; DIETARY FIBER; INTESTINE HISTOLOGY
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2006.09.001

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to determine if protein metabolism was altered in small and large intestines by feeding pectin, a soluble fiber known to stimulate cecal production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and to have a trophic effect in these tissues. Methods Twenty-four weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed ad libitum for 14 d with a balanced control diet or an isoproteic, isocaloric pectin (citrus) diet (80 g/kg). SCFA production, intestinal histomorphometry, and protein synthesis were determined in the proximal and distal parts of the small intestine, the cecum, and the colon. Protein synthesis rates were determined by measuring the13 C valine incorporation rate in tissue proteins. Results Pectin feeding slightly decreased food intake and growth rate. It increased the acetate, propionate, and butyrate pools in the cecum. Pectin feeding resulted in heavier intestinal tissues corresponding to higher villus height in the small intestine and crypt depth in the small and large intestines compared with feeding of the control diet. Compared with the control group, the rats fed the pectin diet had significantly higher protein synthesis rates in all the parts of their intestines. Conclusion Supplementation of pectin, as a soluble fiber, in the diets, stimulated SCFA production, had a trophic effect on the different parts of the intestines, and greatly stimulated protein synthesis in those tissues.