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 once daily 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, with no between-group differences in liver lipids. 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.