BACKGROUND: The ingestion of two prebiotics, galactooligosaccharide (GOS) and polydextrose (PDX), leads to an increase in iron absorption and promotes recovery from anemia in gastrectomized rats. AIM: To study whether GOS + PDX stimulate iron absorption in gastrectomized and normals rats. METHODS: Rats were laparotomized (sham-operated control) and partially gastrectomized (Billroth II) in groups of 20 each. Animals from both treatments were subsequently fed a control diet (AIN-93M) or the same diet supplemented with GOS and PDX (25 g/Kg of diet each) for eight weeks. They were divided into four subgroups, i.e., sham-operated and gastrectomized without GOS + PDX, sham-operated and gastrectomized with GOS + PDX. Two rats died during the experiment. All gastrectomized rats received an intramuscular injection of vitamin B-12 every two weeks. Hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin concentration (HGB) were measured at the start and on day 30 and 56 days after the start of feeding. On the final day of the study, total blood was collected for determination of serum iron concentration. RESULTS: In the diet with GOS + PDX, iron excretion in feces was significantly lower than without the prebiotics. Apparent iron absorption and serum iron was higher in the GOS + PDX fed groups (both sham operated and gastrectomized) than in the non-GOS + PDX fed groups. The HCT and HGB concentrations were significantly lower in gastrectomized rats than in the control group, however, GOS + PDX feeding improved HGB levels in this group. CONCLUSION: The association of the GOS + PDX increase absorption of iron in sham-operated and gastrectomized rats and still prevent postgastrectomy anemia.
Prebiotics; Gastrectomy; Iron; Anemia; Rats
