Colonic fermentation and nutritional recovery in rats with massive small bowel resection

Background/Aims : After massive small bowel resection, malabsorbed carbohydrates reach the colon and undergo fermentation. This study investigates the role of colonic fermentation in rats with 80% small bowel resection on weight gain, nitrogen balance, body composition, and intestinal adaptation. Methods : Resected or transected rats were fed a liquid diet enterally for 16 days with or without 30 mg/kg metronidazole to reduce fermentation. Weight gain was monitored until the rats were killed. Carcass composition, short-chain fatty acids in cecal content, total nitrogen output, and intestinal mucosal dry weight, protein, and DNA were measured. Results : Resected rats without metronidazole had a significantly better weight gain, carcass protein, nitrogen balance, and mucosal dry weight, protein, and DNA compared with that of resected rats receiving metronidazole. There were no significant differences between the two transected groups. Conclusions : Decreasing colonic fermentation, measured by short-chain fatty acids in cecal content, reduced intestinal adaptation and nutritional recovery in rats with massive small bowel resection.