Stimulation of Gastric Transit Function Driven by Hydrolyzed Casein Increases Small Intestinal Carbohydrate Availability and Its Microbial Metabolism

Junhua Shen, Chunlong Mu, Huisong Wang, Zan Huang, Kaifan Yu, Erwin G. Zoetendal, Weiyun Zhu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) functions affect gut nutrient flow and microbial metabolism. Dietary peptides modulate GI functions and improve small intestinal health, but the mechanism remains elusive. This study aims to investigate whether dietary peptides affect small intestinal microbial metabolism, and the underlying mechanisms. An ileal-cannulated pig model is adopted to explore the relationship between gut nutrient flow and microbial metabolism after treatment with hydrolyzed casein (peptides) or intact casein (Control)-based diet. The results demonstrate that hydrolyzed casein enhances microbial carbohydrate metabolism with higher Streptococcus abundance and higher lactate level in the ileum. Meanwhile, hydrolyzed casein increases ileal flows of nutrients, especially carbohydrate, leading to a higher carbohydrate availability in ileal digesta. To unveil the mechanisms, it is found that the hydrolyzed casein enhances the ghrelin signal and improves development of interstitial cells of Cajal and muscular layer in gastric corpus, indicating the enhanced upper GI transit function. In addition, hydrolyzed casein improves small intestinal health, as indicated by higher villus heights and luminal lactate concentrations in the jejunum and ileum. In conclusion, hydrolyzed casein stimulates upper GI transit function, enhances gut nutrient flow, and increases small intestinal carbohydrate availability and its microbial metabolism, which favor the small intestinal health.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2000250
JournalMolecular Nutrition and Food Research
Volume64
Issue number21
Early online date7 Oct 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Nov 2020

Keywords

  • carbohydrate metabolism
  • GI transit
  • ileal flow
  • peptides
  • small intestinal microbe

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