Background

The optimal regimen for enteral nutritional support in the management of children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) is not well characterized. A high fat, enteral diet is theoretically beneficial due to increased caloric density and enhanced structural adaptation. We therefore sought to determine the long-term effects of a high fat diet (HFD) on liver injury, a common complication of SBS, compared to a standard chow (SC) diet.

Methods

Using a parenteral nutrition-independent model of resection-associated liver injury, C57BL/6 mice underwent a sham operation or a 50% or 75% proximal small bowel resection (SBR). Mice in each group were then fed either a HFD (35% kcal fat) or SC (13% kcal fat). At post-operative week 15, markers of liver injury were quantified.

Results

Liver triglyceride levels were increased from 7- to 19-fold in mice on the HFD compared to mice fed SC in the sham, 50%, and 75% resection groups. Serum ALT (2.2-fold increase in 75% resected mice compared to sham controls) and AST (2.0- and 2.7-fold increases in 50% and 75% resected mice, respectively) levels as well as fibrotic liver staining were elevated only in resected mice fed a HFD.

Conclusion

Long-term enteral feeding of HFD in our murine SBS model is associated with hepatic steatosis and liver injury. Our observation that liver steatosis and injury occur independent of parenteral nutrition suggests that enteral feeding composition and magnitude of intestinal loss may make a significant contribution to intestinal failure-associated liver disease.