Can wheat bran mitigate malnutrition and enteric pathogens?

Authors: Kiszonas, Alecia

Submitted to: Cereal Foods World
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/23/2017
Publication Date: 10/27/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5845858
Citation: Kiszonas, A. 2017. Can wheat bran mitigate malnutrition and enteric pathogens? Cereal Foods World. 62:214-217.

Interpretive Summary: Child malnutrition is a global problem. Enteric pathogens and malnutrition work in a cycle to depress a child’s intestinal immunity, while decreasing nutrient absorption. This cycle leads to stunting, wasting, and death. Often malnourished children are not able to cultivate a healthy gut microbiome, necessary to warding off pathogens. This study used four groups of rats to evaluate the ability of wheat bran to mitigate the effects of damaged intestines. The treatment groups were: Control, Bran, Colitis, and Colitis and Bran. A Disease Index Score was taken daily for each rat for 12 weeks and consisted of: stool consistency, blood in stool, rectal irritation, and attitude. Although rats with colitis and bran had softer stool at six time points, the colitis group showed greater rectal irritation throughout the study than the group with colitis and bran. This study suggests that bran may have a role in mitigating the damaging effects of malnutrition and enteric pathogens on the intestines.

Technical Abstract: Child malnutrition is a complex global problem, of which lack of food is only one component. Enteric pathogens and malnutrition work in a cyclic manner to depress a child’s intestinal immunity, while decreasing nutrient absorption. This cycle leads to stunting, wasting, and death. Often malnourished children are not able to cultivate a healthy, rich gut microbiome, necessary to warding off pathogens. Some gut bacteria are able to ferment dietary fiber into short-chain fatty acids, which help heal the intestines, and aid in building the intestinal mucosal defense layer. This study used four groups of rats to evaluate the ability of wheat bran to mitigate the effects of damaged intestines. The treatment groups were: Control, Bran, Colitis, and Colitis and bran. A Disease Index Score was taken daily for each rat for 12 weeks and consisted of: stool consistency, blood in stool, rectal irritation, and attitude. Although rats with colitis and bran had softer stool at six time points, the colitis group exhibited substantially greater rectal irritation throughout the study than the group with colitis and bran. This study suggests that bran may have a role in mitigating the damaging effects of malnutrition and enteric pathogens on the intestines.