Diarrhea is the most common complication of enteral nutrition (EN). Pro/prebiotics are typically used to prevent diarrhea during EN. This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of enteral formula containing fermented dairy products (FDPs) and galacto-oligosaccharides on intestinal mucosal functions in rats. After feeding rats with regular rodent chow (RRC), standard formula (STD-F), and FDP-containing formula (FDP-F) for 2 wk, the rats were sacrificed with their intestines removed. Then, the electrophysiological properties of intestinal epithelia were measured using the Ussing chamber. In addition, organic acids and microbiota in the cecal contents were analyzed. In FDP-F-fed rats, electrical nerve activation-evoked increase in short-circuit current (Isc) in the cecum and middle colon was reduced compared with STD-F-fed rats. Mucosal propionate-evoked changes in Isc in FDP-F-fed rats were also reduced in the terminal ileum. The total cecal organic acid concentration in STD-F-fed rats decreased compared with RRC-fed rats, and approximately half was recovered in FDP-F-fed rats, which contributed to the recovery of acetate and butyrate concentrations. In microbiota analysis, the density of total bacteria, particularly Bifidobacterium, in cecal contents increased in FDP-F-fed rats. In conclusion, the consumption of FDP-F changed the total amounts and components of gut microbiota and organic acids, and resulted in inhibitory changes in mucosal luminal stimulant- and nervous system-mediated fluid secretory function. These findings suggest that FDP-F might prevent the incidence of diarrhea during EN.
Keywords: Ussing chamber; diarrhea; enteral nutrition; prebiotics; probiotics; short-chain fatty acids.