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Colonic mucus: Secretion and turnover in relation to dietary fibre intake

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Iain Brownlee, Professor Jeffrey Pearson

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Abstract

The colon is subjected to a myriad of potentially damaging agents that may reside within the lumen for 1-2 d. Its first line of defence against these agents is the protective mucus bilayer that lines the entire colonic mucosa. This bilayer acts as a physical barrier to mucosal aggressors and also reduces shear stress to the mucosa. These actions are dependent on the unstimulated ('resting') colonic mucus thickness, and also on the rate that this layer can be replenished. The colonic mucus layer is altered in a number of colonic diseases that have been linked to a deficiency of fibre in the diet. The action of fibre intake on colonic mucus thickness and secretion is unknown. Using an in vivo rat model it has been demonstrated that: (1) fibre deficiency leads to a decreased protective potential of the mucus layer (e.g. the mean resting mucus thickness of the fibre-deficient group (429 μm) was significantly lower than its respective control (579 μm; P < 0.001), as was its total mucus secretion over 6h (270 μm v. 541 μm; P < 0.01); (2) specific fibre types in the diet alter the secretion dynamics of colonic mucus (e.g. a cellulose-based diet reduces total mucus secretion over 6 h compared with its control (175 μm v. 463 μm). Analysis of the diets suggested a necessity for both soluble and insoluble fibre types in the diet to increase mucosal protection.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Brownlee IA, Havler ME, Dettmar PW, Allen A, Pearson JP

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society

Year: 2003

Volume: 62

Issue: 1

Pages: 245-249

Print publication date: 01/02/2003

ISSN (print): 0029-6651

ISSN (electronic): 1475-2719

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/PNS2003206

DOI: 10.1079/PNS2003206

PubMed id: 12756974


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