Whole Cranberry Powder Promotes Bifidobacterium infantis Attenuation of Disease Activity in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice

Synbiotic therapy (combinations of prebiotic and probiotics) may alleviate inflammatory bowel diseases. Whole cranberry powder (WCP) has a potential prebiotic role in promoting the anti-inflammatory activity of probiotic bacteria, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (Bi). We studied the effects of WCP and Bi on disease activity and biomarkers of inflammation in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) murine model of colitis. Female BALB/c mice (6 wk old; n=48) consumed AIN-93G control or diet supplemented with Bi, Bi+1% WCP, or Bi+3% WCP for 21 d. Diets were formulated to provide a daily dose of 1-2x109 cfu Bi/mouse. Colitis was induced with 3% DSS in the drinking water during the last 7 d. There was no difference in body weight between treatments. Colitis induction was evident by elevation of disease activity index in the DSS control group on d 16-21. Supplementation with Bi alone lowered (P<0.05) disease activity scores until d 19. The addition of Bi+WCP further delayed the onset of colitis until d 20. Bi+1% ...