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Arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides (AXOS) reduce preneoplastic lesions in the colon of rats treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)

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Abstract

Background

Prebiotics are non-digestible compounds that beneficially affect the host by stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of resident colonic bacteria in the gut. Reported beneficial effects of prebiotics include reduced gut infections, better absorption of minerals, and notably, antitumorigenic effects. Arabinoxylan (AX)-oligosaccharides (AXOS) have been suggested to exert prebiotic effects in the gut, but their effect on colon carcinogenesis has not been studied so far.

Aim of the study

To test the effect of AXOS in a rat colon carcinogenesis model.

Methods

We determined the occurrence of two types of preneoplastic lesions [aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and mucin depleted foci (MDF)] in the colon of rats treated with the colon carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and fed either a control diet or a diet containing AXOS (4.8% w/w) (15 rats in each group).

Results

Thirteen weeks after DMH treatment, MDF counts were significantly lower in the entire colon of AXOS fed rats (MDF/colon were 7.5 ± 0.6 and 5.5 ± 0.6, in Control and AXOS groups, respectively, means ± SE, P < 0.05). Although the number of ACF in the entire colon was not significantly different between Control and AXOS fed rats, AXOS fed rats had significantly fewer ACF in the distal part of the colon than Control group rats (ACF/distal colon were 135.5 ± 15 and 84.4 ± 11, in Control and AXOS groups, respectively, means ± SE, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The present study shows that dietary intake of AXOS by rats reduces the occurrence of two types of preneoplastic lesions, thus suggesting a chemopreventive effect on colon carcinogenesis that should be confirmed in a long-term carcinogenesis experiment.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by Fondo Ateneo ex-60% of the University of Florence.

Conflict of interests statement

WFB, CMC, IEJAF, and JAD hold stock (options) of Fugeia NV. WFB and JAD are directors of Fugeia NV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy

    Angelo Pietro Femia, Maddalena Salvadori & Giovanna Caderni

  2. Fugeia NV, Bio-Incubator, Gaston Geenslaan 1, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    Willem F. Broekaert & Isabelle E. J. A. François

  3. Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry and Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20 bus 2463, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    Willem F. Broekaert, Jan A. Delcour & Christophe M. Courtin

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  1. Angelo Pietro Femia
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  2. Maddalena Salvadori
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Correspondence to Giovanna Caderni.

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Femia, A.P., Salvadori, M., Broekaert, W.F. et al. Arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides (AXOS) reduce preneoplastic lesions in the colon of rats treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Eur J Nutr 49, 127–132 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-009-0050-x

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