Evaluation of the efficacy of triacetin intake, which produces acetic acid in the gut, in inflammatory bowel disease.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11807
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Kobe Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshimura Yukihiro 神戸学院大学, 栄養学部, 准教授 (60455566)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 酢酸 / 炎症性大腸炎 / 短鎖トリグリセリド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As the number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease continues to increase, the development of safe preventive methods is an urgent issue from aspects of improving the quality of life of patients and reducing the increase in medical costs. In this study, we focused on triacetin (Tri), which releases acetic acid in the small intestine, to verify the preventive effect of Tri intake on DSS-induced colitis in rats and to investigate the mechanism. The present study confirmed that ingested Tri was completely degraded in the upper small intestinal lumen and absorbed into the body via the portal vein as acetic acid, and that the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis were alleviated by prior Tri ingestion. Furthermore, the mechanism of the alleviation effect was assumed to be the prevention of DSS-induced inflammation by maintaining the intestinal barrier function.

Free Research Field

食品機能学、生化学、発生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

炎症性大腸炎の治療に用いられている5-アミノサリチル酸やステロイドには、はアレルギー様症状や易感染性、骨粗鬆症、高血糖等の数多くの副作用を起こす可能性があり、大腸炎を予防、緩和するより安全な食事療法が望まれる。酢酸は、抗炎症作用を発揮し、大腸炎を抑制することが知られているが、刺激性や毒性が強いことから多くの摂取が難しく、より安全性の高い物質が求められる。そのため、本研究において確認された食品添加物として安全性が担保されているTriによる炎症性大腸炎モデル動物の大腸炎予防効果は、より安全性の高い予防法確立の一助となることが期待される。