July 29/Health & Medicine Week -- "Prebiotics may increase Zn absorption, a mineral known to play a central role in the immune system. Zn-deficient states are characterised by suppressed immune function, while prebiotics may improve both gut and cell-mediated immunity," investigators in Winnipeg, Canada, report.

"Our objective was to determine if inulin alters the number and proportion of immune cells in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and Peyer's patches (PP), ex vivo cytokine secretion, intestinal permeability and Zn status in healthy as well as Zn-deficient rats. Weanling female rats were fed diets Supplemented with 5% cellulose (CEL) or 5% inulin (PRE) for four weeks. The rats received the CEL or PRE diet ad libitum (ZN) or in restricted amounts (DR), or deficient in Zn (ZD) for another four weeks. The PRE-fed rats had a higher number and proportion of dendritic cells in PP, and greater ex vivo secretion of IL-2, IL-10 and interferon-gamma from spleen and MLN cells compared with CEL-fed rats. PRE reduced the number and proportion of T cell receptor (TCR)-alpha beta(+)CD8(+) cells in spleen and CD45RA(+) cells in MLN compared with CEL. ZD rats had lower serum IgG2a and T cell numbers in MLN compared with ZN and DR rats. TCR gamma delta(+) cell numbers in PP were higher in ZD-PRE rats compared with ZD-CEL rats. Femur Zn concentrations of DR-PRE rats were higher than those of DR-CEL rats. Intestinal permeability was unchanged," wrote N.R. Ryz and colleagues, University of Manitoba.

The researchers concluded, "The higher proportion and number of dendritic cells in the PP of inulin-fed rats indicates a need for further research on how prebiotics and their metabolites affect immune function possibly through intestinal dendritic cells.."

Ryz and colleagues published their study in British Journal of Nutrition ("Long-chain Inulin Increases Dendritic Cells in the Peyer's Patches and Increases Ex Vivo Cytokine Secretion in the Spleen and Mesenteric Lymph Nodes of Growing Female Rats, Independent of Zinc Status." British Journal of Nutrition, 2009;101(11):1653-1663).

For additional information, contact C.G. Taylor, University of Manitoba, Dept. of Human Nutrition Science, H507 Duff Roblin Bldg, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.

From the August 3, 2009, Prepared Foods E-dition