AUTHOR=Pieterman Elsbet J. , Princen Hans M. G. , Jarke Annica , Nilsson Ralf , Cavallin Anders , Bergenholm Linnéa , Henricsson Marcus , Gopaul V. Sashi , Agrawal Rahul , Nissen Steven E. , Hurt-Camejo Eva TITLE=Chronic Oral Administration of Mineral Oil Compared With Corn Oil: Effects on Gut Permeability and Plasma Inflammatory and Lipid Biomarkers JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.681455 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.681455 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=

We investigated the effects of chronic oral administration of mineral oil, versus corn oil as control, on intestinal permeability, inflammatory markers, and plasma lipids in APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice. Mice received mineral oil or corn oil 15 or 30 μL/mouse/day for 16 weeks (15 mice/group). Intestinal permeability was increased with mineral versus corn oil 30 µL/day, shown by increased mean plasma FITC-dextran concentrations 2 h post-administration (11 weeks: 1.5 versus 1.1 μg/ml, p = 0.02; 15 weeks: 1.7 versus 1.3 μg/ml, p = 0.08). Mean plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels were raised with mineral versus corn oil 30 µL/day (12 weeks: 5.8 versus 4.4 μg/ml, p = 0.03; 16 weeks: 5.8 versus 4.5 μg/ml, p = 0.09), indicating increased intestinal bacterial endotoxin absorption and potential pro-inflammatory effects. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were decreased with mineral oil, without affecting liver lipids among treated groups. Fecal neutral sterol measurements indicated increased fecal cholesterol excretion with mineral oil 30 µL/day (+16%; p = 0.04). Chronic oral administration of mineral oil in APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice increased intestinal permeability, with potential pro-inflammatory effects, and decreased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Our findings may raise concerns about the use of mineral oil as a placebo in clinical studies.