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Effects of Plantago ovata husk on the intestinal content of short chain fatty acids in mice The short chain fatty acids acetate (C2), propionate (C3) and butyrate (C4) are the main metabolic products of anaerobic bacteria fermentation in the intestine. The concentration of these fatty acids in the gastrointestinal tract and blood may predispose to or prevents pathological conditions such as cancer or diabetes. Butyric acid, the main energy substrate for the colonocytes, may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of various colonic diseases. In this study, we have evaluated the influence of a dietary fiber (Plantago ovata husk) in the composition of short chain fatty acids of the intestinal content in mice previously treated with azoxymethane, a potent carcinogen that induces colorectal cancer and adenomas. To carry out the study we used four groups of female ICR:CD1 mice with a body weight ranging 28-30g. Groups 1 and 2 were fed with standard chow and groups 3 and 4 received a modified chow, enriched with a 10% of Plantago ovata husk. Azoxymethane (10 mg/kg) was subcutaneously administered once a week for 6 weeks to mice from groups 2 and 4. Animals were sacrificed 1 week after the treatment. Short chain fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography in the intestinal content of caecum, distal and proximal colon. The presence of Plantago ovata husk increased significantly the weight of intestinal content. The percentage of butyric acid was higher in the two groups of animals that received fiber (27%) than in those fed with standard chow (23%). The average distribution of acetic, propionic and butyric acids in the four groups was: 67:9:24 for group 1; 63:14:23 for group 2; 66:7:27 for group 3 and 63:10:27 for group 4. Taking into account these results, Plantago ovata husk increased the content of butyric acid in the intestinal content and this fact could be useful in the prevention of colonic diseases.
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