ADJUVANT EFFECTS OF Lactobacillus casei ADDED TO A RENUTRITION DIET IN A MALNOURISHED MOUSE MODEL

GAUFFIN CANO, PAOLA; AGÜERO, GRACIELA; PERDIGÓN, GABRIELA

BIOCELL

INST HISTOL EMBRIOL-CONICET

Año: 2002 vol. 26 p. 35 - 48

0327-9545

The therapeutic and preventive effects of yoghurt and the lactic acid bacteria on diseases such as cancer, infection and gastrointestinal disorders are well documented. The aim of this research was to study the effects of different doses of yoghurt addition after milk re-nutrition diet, on the recovery of the intestinal barrier and mucosal immune function. The experiments were performed in groups of mice, malnourished and re-nourished with milk during 7 days, and mice with diet supplemented with yogurt for 2, 5 and 7 consecutive days. Nutritional parameters such as weight gain, serum total protein, and the number of IgA, IgM and IgG B cells of the small intestine were determined. We also quantified intraepithelial leukocytes, mastocytes and goblet cells, and performed structural and ultrastructural studies on small intestine. We observed that 5 days of yoghurt feeding was the optimal dose for improving the gut barrier function and the mucosal immune system in a malnutrition model. This effect was not observed with milk re-nutrition. Although the results were better for 5 days of yoghurt, addition for 7 days also showed beneficial effects. Yoghurt feeding in our model did not impair any gut functions. These results suggest that yoghurt addition after a re-nutrition diet gives better recovery of intestinal function than the re-nutrition diet usually recommended. Although these results were obtained in an animal model, they indicate that consumption of yoghurt by malnourished children might accelerate the restoration of gut function.