Impact of β-glucan on the Fecal Water Genotoxicity of Polypectomized Patients

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of β-glucan on the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of polypectomized patient's fecal water (FW). Polypectomized volunteers (n = 69) were randomly assigned to consume bread with or without β-glucan, for 3 months. FW was collected at the beginning (t = 0), the 30th and 90th day and 2 wk after the intervention. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were estimated on Caco-2 cells, using trypan blue exclusion test and comet assay, respectively. Gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded and subjects kept a 3-day food diary at baseline and after completion. Trypan blue exclusion test revealed cell survival of approximately 87% after incubation with FW. The FW samples showed 49% genotoxicity at the baseline. Genotoxicity in the intervention group decreased during the trial reaching statistical significance on the 90th day compared to control. An increase was noticed 2 wk after the trial, but it still remained significantly lower compared to control. Group-specific analysis for β-glucan also revealed significant decrease in the genotoxicity on the 90th day compared to baseline. β-glucan ingestion in polypectomized patients significantly decreased the genotoxicity of their FW. Our findings suggest that β-glucan consumption could possibly provide protection against colon cancer development.

Acknowledgments

We thank the hospital staffs from the Second Department of Gastroenterology, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens and from the Department of Gastroenterology, “Saint Panteleimon” General Hospital, Nikea, as well as Dr. Stavros S. Tsiakos, for providing help in subject recruitment. We thank Margarita Bekyrou and Christiana Fragkouli for assistance with comet assay, and Irini Kolonti for excellent technical assistance in Caco-2 cell culture. We are also thankful to Jotis S.A Food Industry for providing both the placebo and experimental food.