Gluten-free diet reduces severity of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in BALB/c mice

Figure 1 Gluten-free diet preserves colon length in dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis. In the first pilot experiment, colitis was induced with 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 7 days in female BALB/c mice that had been maintained for 5 weeks on a gluten-free diet (GFD) (n = 10) or a standard diet (STD) (n = 10). A: Preservation of colon length in BALB/c mice on the GF or ST diet after DSS treatment (P < 0.05); B: Reduced intestinal bleeding scores (P < 0.05); C: No substantial changes in body weight during DSS-induced colitis. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05. DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; STD: Standard diet; GFD: Gluten-free diet.