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Pigs are good models for digestion in humans

Pigs and humans are very alike when it comes to the impact of diet on metabolic processes, according to a study by scientists from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital. This knowledge is useful because nutritional studies using animal models can be transferred to humans.

[Translate to English:] Forskningsresultater opnået i ernæringsstudier med dyremodeller kan overføres direkte til mennesker. Det fremgår af et studie udført af forskere fra Aarhus Universitet og Aarhus Universitetshospital.

For many years, the pig has been used as a model for humans for research into the impact of diet on metabolic processes. However, it has not been entirely clear whether the results obtained from such studies can be directly applied to humans.

 

Scientists at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital have now documented that this is the case. The spectacular results have been published in the renowned journal The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

 

The results are very important because the great advantage of using pigs in nutritional studies as it is possible to collect blood and tissue samples from central places in the body not possible with human subjects.

 

- Our results may, for example, help scientists to explain in the future why some foods and diets are increasing the risk for developing diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, explains Knud Erik Bach Knudsen, professor at the Department of Animal Science.

 

The findings originate from a study where both pigs and humans were provided breads with various fibre contents and compositions. Blood samples were taken continuously after the ingestion of the different breads and the analyses of metabolic responses showed that the two species responded in a similar way to the diet interventions.

 

The study was part of the BioFunCarb research project that involved the so-called biofunctional carbohydrates, where both short- and long-term effects of dietary fibre and modified carbohydrates were followed in humans and model animals. The project aims to obtain a better understanding of what happens when we eat various carbohydrates, and why some carbohydrates such as dietary fibre may help prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes and associated complications.

 

Read the scientific article from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

 

Read about the BioFunCarb project

 

Further information: Professor Knud Erik Bach Knudsen, Department of Animal Science, telephone: +45 8715 8063, e-mail: knuderik.bachknudsen@agrsci.dk