Protective effect of apiaceous vegetables against total western diet- and dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis

Authors: LEE, HEE-SEOP - University Of Arkansas; IBARRA, LAURA - University Of Arkansas; ZUO, BRIN - University Of Arkansas; ZHAO, JIANGCHAO - University Of Arkansas; FOX, RENEE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); Read, Quentin; Gurung, Manoj; Yeruva, Venkat; CHEN, CHI - University Of Minnesota; TRUDO, SABRINA - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2026
Publication Date: 6/25/2026
Citation: Lee, H., Ibarra, L.E., Zuo, B., Zhao, J., Fox, R., Read, Q.D., Gurung, M., Yeruva, V., Chen, C., Trudo, S.P. 2026. Protective effect of apiaceous vegetables against total western diet- and dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Journal of Nutrition. 156(8): Article 101652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101652.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101652

Interpretive Summary: Western-style diets have high meat, fat, and sugar intake with low intake of fruits and vegetables. This dietary pattern increases the risk of colon inflammation and cancer. Evidence suggests that eating apiaceous vegetables, specifically celery and parsnip, may counteract these risks. We tested whether mice fed a diet matching the average U.S. diet were protected from chemical-induced colon inflammation if they also ate celery and parsnips. The amount of celery and parsnips added to the mouse diet was equivalent to 1.3 cups per day for humans. Adding celery and parsnips to the Western-style diet lessened the severity of colon inflammation and its side effects of weight loss, colon shortening, and disease activity. celery and parsnips intake improved anti-inflammatory processes and the level of a protein that helps the gut barrier. Celery and parsnips intake also improved the diversity, composition, and quality of gut bacteria. Lastly, the Western-style diet without celery and parsnips increased potentially harmful compounds in the gut and decreased some beneficial compounds. Celery and parsnips intake lessened the loss of beneficial compounds and decreased some harmful compounds derived from the Western-style diet. Our data indicate that more research is warranted on the potential of celery and parsnip intake to decrease the risk of diseases associated with Western-style diets.

Technical Abstract: Western-style dietary patterns are associated with diseases such as colitis and colon cancer. Existing data indicate intake of apiaceous vegetables (API; e.g., celery, parsnip) may be anti-inflammatory. Here, we investigated in mice the effect of API supplementation to the Total Western Diet (TWD) against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Mice were fed TWD with or without fresh API supplementation (21% and 42% w/w) for 19 days; mice in colitis groups were exposed to 2% DSS in drinking water for 5 days from Day 12 to 17. API attenuated DSS-induced colitis phenotypes including weight loss, colon shortening, and disease activity, affecting anti-inflammatory processes evidenced by mitigation of DSS-induced alterations in cytokine/chemokine release pattern and macrophage infiltration into mucosa. API also increased occludin, a tight junction protein. Supplementation with API improved gut microbiota diversity and composition evidenced by suppression of DSS-induced pathogenic bacteria (Paraclostridium, Enterococcus, Eubacterium) and enrichment of beneficial bacteria (Lachnospiraceae and Blautia). Furthermore, targeted and untargeted metabolomics indicated that TWD consumption for 12 days increased arachidonic acid and aliphatic aldehydes, which may be contributors to colitis development, and decreased short chain fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids. Although API was not effective in reversing all of these changes, API mitigated the reductions in short chain fatty acids and attenuated other TWD-derived metabolites (cholic acid, a-muricholic acid, methyonyl serine, acetone, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) which are associated with colitis and colorectal cancer risk. In sum, these data indicate that API intake for risk reduction of diseases associated with western diets warrants further investigation.