Nutritional treatment with an immune-modulating enteral formula alleviates 5-fluorouracil-induced adverse effects in rats

PLoS One. 2019 Nov 26;14(11):e0225389. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225389. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Cancer chemotherapy is frequently accompanied by adverse effects, such as diarrhoea and leukopenia, which lead to malnutrition and a decrease in the patients' quality of life. We previously demonstrated that an immune-modulating formula (IMF)-an enteral formula enriched with immunonutrients, whey-hydrolysed peptides, and fermented milk-had anti-inflammatory effects and protective effects on intestinal disorders in some experimental models. Here, we investigated whether nutritional treatment with the IMF could prevent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced adverse effects in rats. Rats were randomised into CTR and IMF groups, which received a control formula or the IMD supplemented formula ad libitum. Two weeks after starting the formula, rats were intraperitoneally injected with 5-FU (300 mg/kg) on day 0. The treatment with 5-FU decreased their body weights, food intake, and leukocyte counts, and worsened the diarrhoea score. However, the body weights, food intake, and leukocyte counts were significantly higher in the IMF rats than in the CTR rats on day 1. The IMF also delayed the incidence of diarrhoea and significantly preserved the villus heights in the jejunum on day 2. In conclusion, nutritional treatment with the IMF alleviated the adverse effects induced by 5-FU injection in rats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cultured Milk Products
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Enteral Nutrition
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects*
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage*
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Intestinal Diseases / chemically induced
  • Intestinal Diseases / diet therapy*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Fluorouracil

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Meiji Co., Ltd. The funders made the final approval of the experimental design and of the paper submission.