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

Figure 3 Effects of gluten-free diet on severity of dextran sulfate sodium (2. 5%)-induced acute colitis in BALB/c mice. Repeated experiment as in Figure 2, groups of 10 BALB/c females were exposed to 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for 7 days at 8 weeks of age. A: The gluten-free diet (GFD) led to statistically significant preservation of colon length (P < 0.001); B: Decreased disease activity index (P < 0.01); and C: Reduced intestinal bleeding (P < 0.01) compared with DSS-treated animals on the standard diet (STD); D: Macroscopic images of representative colons from GFD and STD groups. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ^bP < 0.01. ^cP < 0.001. DAI: Disease activity index; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; STD: Standard diet; GFD: Gluten-free diet.