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Effect of Lactobacillus-Fermented Diets on Bacterial Translocation and Intestinal Flora in Experimental Prehepatic Portal Hypertension

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Abstract

Spontaneous bacterial infections in cirrhosis and portal hypertension have been attributed to trans- location of gut-derived bacteria, a process promoted by intestinal bacterial overgrowth and disruption of the gut mucosal barrier. Bacteriotherapy with Lactobacillus has been reported to correct bacterial overgrowth, stabilize mucosal barrier function, and decrease bacterial translocation in rat models of acute liver injury and failure. In this study we investigated the effect of Lactobacillus-supplemented diets on intestinal flora and on bacterial translocation rate in portal vein ligated rats. Lactobacillus-fermented milk (yogurt) containing at least 2 × 109 colony forming units/ml or placebo (water) was adminstrated by gavage twice daily (2 ml) for 9 days. Portal vein ligation was performed on day 7 of treatment. Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes and quantification of intestinal flora was assessed by standard bacteriological cultures. Bacterial translocation was not significantly different between animals that received yogurt (82%) and those that received placebo (75%). Yogurt did not induce any significant changes in intestinal flora, whether it was produced with Lactobacillus acidophilus or Lactobacillus GG. In conclusion, in acute prehepatic portal hypertension, bacteriotherapy with Lactobacillus was unable to induce changes in bacterial translocation probably because it was unable to induce changes in bacterial flora.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, West Haven, Connecticut, 06516, USA

    R. Wiest, G. Cadelina, R.J. Groszmann & G. Garcia-Tsao

  2. Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, USA

    F. Chen

  3. Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, USA

    R.J. Groszmann & G. Garcia-Tsao

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  1. R. Wiest
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  2. F. Chen
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  5. G. Garcia-Tsao
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Wiest, R., Chen, F., Cadelina, G. et al. Effect of Lactobacillus-Fermented Diets on Bacterial Translocation and Intestinal Flora in Experimental Prehepatic Portal Hypertension. Dig Dis Sci 48, 1136–1141 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023729115659

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