Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2013; 19(21): 3281-3290
Published online Jun 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i21.3281
Possible ameliorative effect of breastfeeding and the uptake of human colostrum against coeliac disease in autistic rats
Manar E Selim, Laila Y Al-Ayadhi
Manar E Selim, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Autism Research and Treatment Centre, Riyadh 11459, Saudi Arabia
Manar E Selim, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11511, Egypt
Laila Y Al-Ayadhi, Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Autism Research and Treatment Centre, Riyadh 11459, Saudi Arabia
Author contributions: Selim ME put the plan, did the practical part and written part with discussion; Al-Ayadhi LY shared part of the practical part with result.
Supported by The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; the NPST Health Research and Studies program at King Saud University
Correspondence to: Manar E Selim, Associate professor, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Autism Research and Treatment Centre, PO Box 2925, Riyadh 11459, Saudi Arabia. manar.selim@hotmail.com
Telephone: +966-156-3588453 Fax: +966-156-3588453
Received: December 28, 2012
Revised: March 28, 2013
Accepted: April 27, 2013
Published online: June 7, 2013
Processing time: 202 Days and 9.9 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To examine the possible ameliorative effect of breastfeeding and the uptake of human colostrum against coeliac disease in autistic rats.

METHODS: Female rats were fed a standard diet and received a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg sodium valproate on day 12.5 after conception. In study 1, neonatal rats were randomly subjected to blood tests to investigate autism. In study 2, the 1st group was fed by the mother after an injection of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and administration of gliadin. The pups in the 2nd group were prevented from accessing maternal milk, injected IFN-γ, administered gliadin, and hand-fed human colostrum. The normal littermates fed by the table mothers were injected with physiological saline and served as normal controls in this study.

RESULTS: The protein concentration was higher in group 2 than in group 1 in the duodenum (161.6 ± 9 and 135.4 ± 7 mg/g of tissue, respectively, P < 0.01). A significant increase (P < 0.001) in body weight was detected in human colostrum-treated pups on post natal day (PND) 7 and 21 vs suckling pups in group 1. A delay in eye opening was noticed in the treated rats in group 1 on PND 13 compared with the control group and group 2. Administration of a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg sodium valproate on day 12.5 after conception resulted in significantly reduced calcium and vitamin D levels in study 1 compared with the control groups (P < 0.001). However, human colostrum uptake inhibited increases in the level of transglutaminase antibody in autistic pups with coeliac disease.

CONCLUSION: The effects of early-life nutrition and human colostrum on the functional maturation of the duodenal villi in autistic rats with coeliac disease that might limit or prevent the coeliac risk with autism.

Keywords: Autism; Breastfeeding; Coeliac disease; Human colostrum

Core tip: Research examining the potential benefits of using breastfeeding and/or human colostrum for a wide range of gastroenterologic conditions of coeliac disease in autistic rats which is never studied before. Early results are encouraging and we envisage the standard use of human colostrum in the clinical management of gastrointestinal diseases within the next decade.