Background: Probiotics are live organisms that survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract and have beneficial effects on the host. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been recommended in cholesterol lowering, acute diarrhea, prevention of cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. On the other hand, after massive bowel resection bacterial overgrowth is frequent and favours the occurrence of bacterial translocation (BT). The possible beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium lactis (BL) administration on BT in experimental short bowel syndrome (SBS), have not been investigated.
Aim: To test the hypothesis that BL administration decreases BT in SBS in animals fed orally.
Methods: Thirty-two adult Wistar rats fed orally with standard rat chow and tap water "ad libitum" were maintained individual metabolic cages for ten days after 80% gut resection from the duodeno-jejunal angle to 10 cm above the cecum and divided in two groups: -Group A (n = 14): served as control. -Group B (n = 18): daily 7.8 x 109 CFU Bifidobacterium lactis administration, after orgastric intubation. At the end of the experiment they were sacrificed and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and peripheral and portal blood specimens were recovered and cultured. Bacterial identification in blood was made by conventional methods and MLN culture was considered positive with a growth over 100 CFU/g.
Results: Bacterial translocation was detected in 93% of Group A rats. The incidence of BT in Group B was 44%. The relative risk reduction (RRR) was 0.52 (95% confidence interval 0.23-0.81) and the number needed to treat (NNT) was 2 (95% confidence interval between 1-5).
Conclusion: Administration of Bifidobacterium lactis reduces the incidence of BT in adult Wister rats, after 80% gut resection.