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

Figure 2 Gluten-free diet reduces severity of dextran sulfate sodium (2. 5%)-induced acute colitis in BALB/c mice. Eight-week-old female BALB/c mice fed the gluten-free diet (GFD) (n = 10) and standard diet (STD) (n = 10) from 4 weeks of age received 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for 7 days and were sacrificed 3 days later. BALB/c mice on the STD (n = 10) and GFD (n = 10) without DSS exposure were used as controls. A: The GFD led to statistically significant preservation of colon length (P < 0.0001); B: Decreased disease activity index (P < 0.01); and C: Reduced intestinal bleeding (P < 0.001, P < 0.0001) in DSS-treated animals; D: Macroscopic images of representative colons from GFD and STD groups treated with 2.5% DSS; E: Controls. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ^bP < 0.01. ^cP < 0.001. ^dP < 0.0001. P values were assessed by Student’s t-test or by one-way analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni’s post-test. DAI: Disease activity index; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; STD: Standard diet; GFD: Gluten-free diet.