Effects of a probiotic (Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 and Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707) fermented soy product on the development of chemically induced colitis in rats

Abstract

Some strains of probiotic microorganism have the potential to assist in relieving the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study is to determine the effects of daily ingestion of a product based on an aqueous extract of soybean, fermented by Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 and Lactobacillus helveticus 416 with the addition of Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707, on chemically induced colitis in rats and to investigate the possible associated mechanisms. Colitis will be induced chemically by 4% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), dissolved in the drinking water supplied to the animal, which will be ingested daily for a period of seven days. The animals will then be assigned randomly to four groups (n = 10): Group C: healthy animals that do not receive the products under study; Group CL: animals with chemically induced colitis that do not receive the products under study; Group CLF: animals with chemically induced colitis that receive the fermented product; Group PLC: animals with chemically induced colitis that receive the non-fermented product (placebo). Throughout the trial period of 30 days the following parameters will be monitored: body weight of animals, daily water and food intake, consistency and presence of fecal occult blood, fecal microbiota composition, gastrointestinal survival of probiotic microorganisms and concentrations of polyamines and SCFA in the faeces. At the end of the treatment period the animals will be euthanized and the intestine removed to perform histological analysis of the colon and rectum, and determine the concentration of cytokines in the colon.