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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2007

Iain A. Brownlee ,
Mike E. Havler ,
Peter W. Dettmar ,
Adrian Allen  and
Jeffrey P. Pearson
Iain A. Brownlee*
Affiliation:
Department of Physiological Sciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
Mike E. Havler
Affiliation:
Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Ltd, Dansom Lane, Kingston upon Hull, HU8 7DS, UK
Peter W. Dettmar
Affiliation:
Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Ltd, Dansom Lane, Kingston upon Hull, HU8 7DS, UK
Adrian Allen
Affiliation:
Department of Physiological Sciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
Jeffrey P. Pearson
Affiliation:
Department of Physiological Sciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Dr I. A. Brownlee, fax +44 191 222 6706, [email protected]
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Abstract

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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 6 h (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.

Keywords

Dietary fibreColonic mucusMucosal protection
Type
Session: Physiological aspects of fibre
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , February 2003 , pp. 245 - 249
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

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