Recombinant human lactoferrin ingestion attenuates indomethacin-induced enteropathy in vivo in healthy volunteers.

Author(s): Troost FJ, Saris WH, Brummer RJ

Affiliation(s): Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands. f.troost@hb.unimaas.nl

Publication date & source: 2003-12, Eur J Clin Nutr., 57(12):1579-85.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether recombinant human lactoferrin ingestion inhibits nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID)-induced gastroenteropathy in vivo in healthy volunteers as a model for disorders associated with a rise in permeability of the stomach and the small intestine. DESIGN: A randomized crossover dietary intervention. SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTIONS: In all, 15 healthy volunteers (age 23+/-1.4 y) were tested. A sucrose and a lactulose/rhamnose (L/R) permeability test was performed to assess gastroduodenal and small intestine permeability as indicator of NSAID-induced gastroenteropathy. All subjects consumed standardized meals for 2 days. On the second day at time=-24 h each subject ingested a drink containing 5 g recombinant human lactoferrin or placebo during breakfast. At t=-9 h, subjects ingested the same drink with 75 mg of the NSAID indomethacin and after an overnight fast at t=-1 h subjects consumed the drink and 50 mg indomethacin. After 1 h, at t=0, a permeability test was performed. RESULTS: Small intestine permeability after indomethacin and placebo was significantly higher (L/R ratio=0.036; 0.014-0.092, P<0.05) compared to the permeability observed after ingestion of indomethacin and lactoferrin (0.028; 0.015-0.056), whereas gastroduodenal permeability did not differ between the two interventions (P=0.3). CONCLUSION: Oral recombinant human lactoferrin supplementation during a short-term indomethacin challenge reduced the NSAID-mediated increase in small intestinal permeability and hence may provide a nutritional tool in the treatment of hyperpermeability-associated disorders. SPONSORSHIP: Grant and human recombinant lactoferrin donated from Agennix Inc., Houston, TX.