Low vs high dietary fiber and serum, biliary, and fecal lipids in middle-aged men.

Cholesterol metabolism was studied in 34 50-y-old men at home on high and low mixed-fiber diets. The high-fiber diet increased fiber intake (26.2 vs 11.6 g/d) and decreased slightly but significantly total energy, carbohydrate, and protein intakes and serum total, low-density-lipoprotein, and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol values with no effect on dietary cholesterol and fat composition or body weight. Biliary molar lipid percentages were unaffected but deoxycholic acid was increased and chenodeoxycholic acid was decreased by the high-fiber diet. The high-fiber diet changed cholesterol absorption and fecal output of neutral and total sterols nonsignificantly but increased fecal bile acids by 13% (p less than 0.05) and reduced bacterial conversion of fecal sterols to secondary products. The decreased serum cholesterol concentration was probably caused by enhanced fecal output of cholesterol as bile acids resulting in enhanced cholesterol synthesis as indicated by an increased serum concentration of a cholesterol precursor, lathosterol.

Milk and egg phospholipids act as protective surfactants against luminal acid in Necturus gastric mucosa.

BACKGROUND: Our previous studies indicate that milk phospholipids have anti-ulcer properties in rats and humans, possibly by forming a hydrophobic surfactant layer at the epithelial surface. In the present study we measured intracellular pH and parameters of membrane resistances in gastric epithelium exposed to luminal acid using a microelectrode technique. METHODS: Chambered isolated Necturus maculosus antral mucosa was exposed to pH 2.3, with or without 20-25 min pre-treatment with milk or egg phospholipids. The pH in surface epithelial cells was measured with double-barrelled liquid sensor pH/PD-microelectrodes. RESULTS: Pre-treatment with phospholipids (2500-5000 micrograms P/mL) significantly (P < 0.01, n = 14) opposed intracellular acidification. Phospholipids significantly (P < 0.05, n = 14) increased the ratio of apical and basal membrane resistances, suggesting that they primarily affect the apical cell membrane. In contrast, there was no significant change in transmucosal resistance suggesting lack of effect on paracellular shunts in the 'leaky' epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous phospholipids of dietary origin may be used to form a protective layer in the gastric mucosa against irritants.

Budesonide enema in active haemorrhagic proctitis--a controlled trial against hydrocortisone foam enema.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to compare budesonide enema, 2 mg/100 mL (Entocort) and hydrocortisone acetate foam enema, 125 mg (Colifoam) in patients with active haemorrhagic proctitis. METHODS: The trial was a controlled, randomized, investigator-blind study with two parallel groups. Endoscopy, histology and diary cards were used to assess the response to therapy. Safety was assessed by laboratory tests and adverse event recording. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were included. Investigations were made before treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks. Both treatment groups showed statistically significant improvement in endoscopic scores but significant differences between the groups were not found. In the hydrocortisone group, plasma cortisol was significantly lowered after 4 weeks compared with budesonide. Bowel habits and quality of life variables did not differ between the treatments. The recorded adverse events were mild or moderate and may have been due to the proctitis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that budesonide enema is as effective as hydrocortisone foam enema, but without the potential for side-effects associated with suppression of plasma cortisol.

Serum lipids and cholesterol metabolism during guar gum, plantago ovata and high fibre treatments.

Short-term viscous dietary fibres, plantago ovata and guar gum preparations, decreased serum cholesterol, mainly LDL cholesterol, as compared to low fibre or nonviscous high fibre periods, through enhancing cholesterol elimination as fecal bile acids. These changes were associated with significant increases in serum levels of cholesterol precursors, both in methylsterols and demethylated precursor sterols, while that of cholestanol (saturated cholesterol derivative) was decreased. In addition, cholesterol precursor contents were positively related, cholestanol negatively, to fecal cholesterol elimination both on and off viscous fibres. These findings indicate increased cholesterol synthesis, also seen by sterol balance data. As compared to low fibre diet, nonviscous high fibre diet conserved bile acids and decreased cholesterol absorption. Thus, it had no effect on cholesterol synthesis as indicated by fecal total steroids or serum levels of cholesterol precursors.

Effect of pectin on serum cholesterol, fecal bile acids and biliary lipids in normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic individuals.

Pectin, 40-50 g/day for two weeks administered to nine normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic patients, had no effect on serum triglycerides but did cause a significant decrease in the serum total and unesterified cholesterol of hypercholesterolemic subjects in particular. This was associated with increased excretion of fecal bile acids and total steroids and increased concentration of plasma methyl sterols. Thus, the serum cholesterol reduction by pectin appears to be caused by increased cholesterol elimination into stools as bile acids which is then balanced by enhanced cholesterol synthesis. The composition of biliary bile acids and lipids was not changed and secondary bile acids and sterols decreased inconsistently in feces. The measurement of fecal dry weight suggested that the bulk of the pectin was degraded by bacteria during passage through the intestine. Consequently fecal mass and dry weight were not consistently increased, suggesting that pectin may not be an ideal fibre for increasing fecal bulk in functional colonic disorders.

The effect of flaxseed supplementation in processed foods on serum fatty acids and enterolactone.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to study the effects of flaxseed supplementation as a part of daily diet on serum lipids, fatty acids and plasma enterolactone. DESIGN: Eighty volunteers participated in this clinical nutrition study which was carried out in a controlled, double-blind and cross-over manner. The subjects were randomized to diet sequences AB or BA. Diet A meals contained 1.3 g/100 g ground flaxseed and 5 g/100 g flaxseed oil. Also 3-4 g/100 of inulin and wheat fiber was added. AB diet with non-supplemented foods served as control. Test subjects were on both diets for 4 weeks separated by a 4-week wash-out period. Fifteen test subjects continued an open part of the study for 4 additional months. INTERVENTIONS: The dietary intake, basic blood values, serum lipids, fatty acids and enterolactone were measured at baseline, after both intervention periods and during the open study, at baseline and after 2 and 4 months. Serum thiocyanate and blood cadmium were controlled after both intervention periods. RESULTS: The percentage of flaxseed supplemented test food out of total dietary intake was 20% of energy. The test food contained significantly higher amounts of fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and especially alpha-linolenic acid than the control food. No significant changes were observed in the basic laboratory values or in blood lipids. There was a significant increase in serum alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid. Serum enterolactone concentration was doubled during flaxseed supplementation. Serum thiocyanate and blood cadmium values did not exceed reference values and there was no difference between the diets. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we were able to show that, by adding ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil to one or two daily meals, it is possible to obtain significant effects on serum levels of enterolactone and alpha-linolenic acid. SPONSORSHIP: The study was sponsored by the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes).

Areae gastricae and gastritis in double contrast barium meal.

The areae gastricae were studied in patients with different forms of gastritis and with normal gastric mucosa. The material consisted of 57 patients. First gastroscopy was done and biopsies were taken. The stomach was studied on the following day by the double contrast barium meal. The material was divided according to the gastroscopic and biopsy findings into the following groups: normal, superficial gastritis, mixed gastritis, and atrophic gastritis. In the analysis of the surface pattern, special attention was paid to the shape, size and defects of areae gastricae. Corpus and antrum were dealt with separately. In the normal material the areae gastricae were regular in shape, and the size was usually 1--3 mm. Irregular shape, bigger size and more frequent defect areas seemed to point to gastritis. Such changes were especially clear in atrophic gastritis. The significance of the areae gastricae in practice is discussed.

Morphology and dynamics of the gastric mucosa in duodenal ulcer patients and their first-degree relatives.

The prevalence of antral and body gastritis was determined in 30 duodenal ulcer patients and in 143 of their first-degree relatives, and compared by conventional mathematical and stochastic analyses with data on gastritis in a representative Finnish population sample. For conventional analysis, the controls for the duodenal ulcer patients and for the duodenal ulcer relatives, were matched for age and sex. For stochastic analysis, the duodenal ulcer patients and their 99 siblings were compared with the total control population of 434 subjects. The prevalence of gastritis affecting mainly the antral mucosa, and both antral and body mucosa to a similar extent was significantly higher in duodenal ulcer patients than in both controls and in relatives. The prevalence of antral and body gastritis in DU relatives and their controls was similar. However, the prevalence of subjects with normal antral and body mucosa was significantly lower. Stochastic analysis revealed more rapid progression of antral gastritis with age in the duodenal ulcer patients than in their siblings or controls and less rapid progression of body gastritis. The overall progression of antral and body gastritis was similar in DU siblings and their controls, but a dichotomy in the mean antral gastritis score of DU sibships was found, indicating high and low antral gastritis liability subgroups. The mean score of DU sibships having a mean age of less than 50 years behaved dynamically like DU patients, while the mean scores of sibships with a higher mean age had a low liability to develop antral gastritis. Most duodenal ulcer siblings who themselves had a duodenal ulcer, ulcer scar or duodenitis were found in the "high antral gastritis liability" subgroup.