Amelioration of Clostridium difficile Infection in Mice by Dietary Supplementation With Indole-3-carbinol

Objective: To determine the therapeutic effects of dietary supplementation on Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Background: With limited treatment options, the rise of C. difficile-associated disease has spurred on the search for novel therapies. Recent data define a role for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and diet-derived AHR ligands in mucosal immunity. We investigated the efficacy of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a dietary supplement, and AHR precursor ligand in a murine model of CDI. Methods: C57BL/6 (B6), AHR-/-, and AHR+/- mice were placed on either grain-based or semipurified diets with or without I3C before and during CDI. Mice were followed clinically for a minimum of 6 days or euthanized between days 0 and 4 of inoculation for analysis of the inflammatory response and microbiota. Results: B6 mice fed an AHR ligand-deficient, semipurified diet have significantly increased disease severity (P

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