The effects of honey, glutamine and honey/glutamine combination on the
healing and adaptive process of the bowel following massive small bowel
resection were studied in some Nigerian non-descript breeds of dogs. 24
dogs (3-4months old) of mixed sexes with mean body weight of
4.42±0.70 kg were studied. They were randomized into four
treatment groups following 70% small bowel resection. Group A dogs were
placed on glutamine treatment, Group B on oral glutamine/honey and
group C on honey and group D normal saline (control). Their body
weights were evaluated for 15 days and the pre- and post-treatment gut
biopsy samples were obtained and processed for morphometric evaluation.
All groups exhibited signs of small bowel adaptation
(Glutamine/honey>glutamine >> honey > control) at the end
of the experiment (4 weeks). Glutamine/honey combination, glutamine and
honey had gradual increase in body weight from days 3-15 of weight
evaluation. The control group, however, had a remarkable drop in body
weight compared with other groups. Oral glutamine/honey combination
showed the best overall effect based on body weight gain, intestinal
mucosal growth and adaptation, evidenced by increased in residual bowel
Villi height (27.71μm), Villi weight (14.51μm), Crypt depth
(11.25μm), and Villi density (3.40μm). Glutamine showed a
better result than honey with a significant increase in villi height
(38.08μm), width (8.48μm) and crypt depth (40μm).
Histologically, an improved villi branching was observed with
glutamine/honey combination. Our results showed that honey/glutamine
combination had comparative therapeutic advantage over glutamine or
honey and may be a preferred treatment for short bowel syndrome
patients
