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ARTICLE

Probiotics enhance the recovery of gut atrophy in experimental malnutrition

DIANA B. DOCK*, JOSÉ E. AGUILAR-NASCIMENTO**, MARCIA Q. LATORRACA*

* Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Nursing and Nutrition School, The Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil
** Department of Surgery, The Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Address correspondence to: Prof. José Eduardo de AguilarNascimento. Rua Estevão de Mendonça 81 apto 801, CEP 78045-200 Cuiabá – MT, BRASIL. Tel: + 55 65 6237183; Fax: + 55 65 6247149; E-mail: aguilar@terra.com.br

BIOCELL 2004, 28(2), 143-150. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2004.28.143

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics on the recovery of the bowel atrophy induced by malnutrition in rats. METHODS: Twenty-and-six Wistar rats (200-250g) were fed with either a normoproteic (sham group, n=6) or a free-protein diet (n=20) during 12 days. Twelve malnourished rats were randomized to recover during 15 days with either a hydrolyzed diet (control group, n=6) or the same diet enriched with probiotics (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus; probiotic group, n=6). RESULTS: Probiotic group showed similar gain of body, liver and bowel weight than controls. At the jejunum, both the villus height (383±49 vs. 321±46mm; p=0.04) and crypt depth (157±31 vs. 125±10mm; p=0.04) were greater in probiotic group than in controls. The crypt depth at the cecum (214±22 vs. 169±43 mm; p=0.05) and the wall width at both the cecum (410±18 vs. 340±61 mm; p=0.02) and sigmoid (479±130 vs. 330±62 mm; p=0.03) were higher in probiotic than in control group. CONCLUSION: Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus enhance the recovery of gut atrophy induced by malnutrition. Probiotics can be useful as oral adjuvants during the recovery of malnutrition.

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