An elemental diet protects mouse salivary glands from 5-fluorouracil-induced atrophy.

In cancer patients, an elemental diet (ED) reduces adverse effects of chemotherapy, including oral mucositis. However, the detailed mechanism(s) of the healing effects of an ED remains unclear. In this study, the protective effects of the ED, Elental®, were examined against 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced oral mucositis and salivary gland atrophy in mice. Mucositis was induced in female ICR mice by injection of 5-FU. The mice were orally administered Elental® (ED group) or saline (control group). After treatment, whole transcriptome analysis and network analysis were conducted to understand the mechanism(s) of action of Elental® against oral mucositis. Whole transcriptome analysis and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) data suggested that Elental® contributed to the recovery of mitochondrial function in 5-FU-damaged salivary glands. Salivary glands mRNA profiles of 5FU-treated mice with or without ED.