The present study investigated the effects of restricting
protein and calories and supplementation of
inulin, a fiber comprising a linear type of polydisperse
carbohydrates composed primarily of fructil-
fructose bonds (β-(2→1), on the deficiency statuses of animals in which genomic lesion development and colorectal
carcinogenesis had been induced. This experiment involved adult male Swiss mice (N = 11/group). The experimental groups were as follows: Negative Control (vehicle), Positive Control,
1,2-dimethylhydrazine (
DMH),
Inulin, and Associate.
DMH, which promoted
colorectal cancer, was administered intraperitoneally in 4 20-mg/kg
body weight (bw) doses during a 2-week period;
inulin was administered orally at a daily dose of 50 mg/kg bw. Each group was bifurcated; half of each group was fed a normal
protein diet and the other half was fed a
low-protein diet. The results indicated that a correlation existed between
malnutrition and an increased frequency of genomic lesions but that
malnutrition did not predispose animals to
colorectal cancer development.
Inulin exhibited genotoxic activity, which requires further investigation, and low anti-genotoxic activity. Moreover,
inulin reduced the levels of intestinal
carcinogenesis biomarkers in both malnourished and healthy animals. These data suggest that
inulin holds therapeutic potential and is a strong candidate for inclusion among the functional foods used for
cancer prevention in both properly nourished and malnourished individuals.