Carbohydrate supplementation retains intestinal barrier and ameliorates bacterial translocation in an antibiotic-induced mouse model.

Bacterial translocation (BT), with antibiotic use as an inducer, is associated with increased risk of developing multiple inflammatory disorders, and is closely associated with intestinal barrier integrity. Deacetylated konjac glucomannan (DKGM) and konjac oligo-glucomannan (KOGM) are two of the most widely used derivatives in the food industry. They are structurally and physiologically distinct from konjac glucomannan (KGM), and previous studies have confirmed their prebiotic effects. But whether they play a role in antibiotic-induced BT is unknown. Here, we applied an antibiotic cocktail (Abx) to a mouse model and investigated whether and how KGM and its derivatives function in BT and inflammation response amelioration during and after antibiotics, and which intervention plan is more effective. The results showed that KGM and its derivatives all inhibited BT. The colon tissue lesions caused by BT were largely alleviated, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production was highly improved with the supplementation of carbohydrates. The prolonged intervention plan using KGM and its derivatives was more efficient than intervention only during the Abx administration period. Among the three dietary fibers, KGM behaved best, while DKGM and KOGM behaved equivalently. Additionally, KGM and its derivatives all reduced the inflammatory response accompanying BT, but DKGM may have a direct inhibitory efficacy in inflammation other than that through IL-10, unlike KGM or KOGM.