Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation
Abstract Background Weaning is a critical phase in the pigs’ life and gut health might be compromised. Gluconic acid was shown to be poorly absorbed but readily fermented to butyrate in the gut which in turn can improve gut function. Hence, a total of 144 weaning pigs were fed the experimental diets...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Porcine Health Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-023-00305-1 |
| _version_ | 1797849854897029120 |
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| author | Joris Michiels Damien Truffin Maryam Majdeddin Mario Van Poucke Elout Van Liefferinge Noémie Van Noten Mario Vandaele Céline Van Kerschaver Jeroen Degroote Luc Peelman Pierre Linder |
| author_facet | Joris Michiels Damien Truffin Maryam Majdeddin Mario Van Poucke Elout Van Liefferinge Noémie Van Noten Mario Vandaele Céline Van Kerschaver Jeroen Degroote Luc Peelman Pierre Linder |
| author_sort | Joris Michiels |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Weaning is a critical phase in the pigs’ life and gut health might be compromised. Gluconic acid was shown to be poorly absorbed but readily fermented to butyrate in the gut which in turn can improve gut function. Hence, a total of 144 weaning pigs were fed the experimental diets for 42 days. Three treatments were replicated in 8 pens with 6 piglets each: control; low dietary dose of gluconic acid, 9 g/kg; and high dietary dose of gluconic acid, 18 g/kg. After 21 days, one piglet from each pen was sampled for blood haematology and biochemistry, fore- and hindgut digesta characteristics and microbiota, and distal small intestinal histo-morphological indices and gene expression. Results Feeding gluconic acid enhanced performance in period d 0–14 post-weaning, in particular feed intake was increased (P = 0.028), though the high dose did not show benefits over the low dose. Regarding d 0–42, feed intake was elevated (P = 0.026). At d 21, piglets fed 18 g/kg gluconic acid showed a trend for lower number of total white blood cells (P = 0.060), caused by particularly lower numbers of lymphocytes as compared to control (P = 0.028). Highly reduced plasma urea was found for groups fed gluconic acid, it amounted to 2.6 and 2.6 mmol/L for the 9 and 18 g/kg level, respectively, as compared to 3.8 mmol/L in control (P = 0.003). Feeding gluconic acid promoted the relative abundance of lactic-acid-producing and acid-utilizing bacteria. In distal small intestine, Lactobacillus amylovorus increased substantially from 11.3 to 82.6% for control and gluconic acid 18 g/kg, respectively (P < 0.05). In mid-colon, the butyrate producers Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (P > 0.05) and Megasphaera elsdenii (P < 0.05) showed highest abundance in gluconic acid 18 g/kg. Consequently, in caecum and mid-colon, increased relative molar percentage of butyrate were found, e.g., 10.0, 12.9 et 14.7% in caecum for gluconic acid at 0, 9, and 18 g/kg, respectively (P = 0.046). Elevated mRNA anti-inflammatory cytokine and survival signalling levels in distal small intestinal mucosa were found by feeding gluconic acid which might be mediated by butyrate. Conclusions Gluconic acid may have potential to alleviate the postweaning growth-check in pigs by altering microbiota composition and fermentation in the gut. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:50:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b62f3ad320124201a8e115929bbe8945 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-5660 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:50:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Porcine Health Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-b62f3ad320124201a8e115929bbe89452023-04-09T11:29:59ZengBMCPorcine Health Management2055-56602023-04-019111810.1186/s40813-023-00305-1Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentationJoris Michiels0Damien Truffin1Maryam Majdeddin2Mario Van Poucke3Elout Van Liefferinge4Noémie Van Noten5Mario Vandaele6Céline Van Kerschaver7Jeroen Degroote8Luc Peelman9Pierre Linder10Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent UniversityRoquette FrèresLaboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent UniversityLaboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent UniversityLaboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent UniversityLaboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent UniversityLaboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent UniversityLaboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent UniversityRoquette FrèresAbstract Background Weaning is a critical phase in the pigs’ life and gut health might be compromised. Gluconic acid was shown to be poorly absorbed but readily fermented to butyrate in the gut which in turn can improve gut function. Hence, a total of 144 weaning pigs were fed the experimental diets for 42 days. Three treatments were replicated in 8 pens with 6 piglets each: control; low dietary dose of gluconic acid, 9 g/kg; and high dietary dose of gluconic acid, 18 g/kg. After 21 days, one piglet from each pen was sampled for blood haematology and biochemistry, fore- and hindgut digesta characteristics and microbiota, and distal small intestinal histo-morphological indices and gene expression. Results Feeding gluconic acid enhanced performance in period d 0–14 post-weaning, in particular feed intake was increased (P = 0.028), though the high dose did not show benefits over the low dose. Regarding d 0–42, feed intake was elevated (P = 0.026). At d 21, piglets fed 18 g/kg gluconic acid showed a trend for lower number of total white blood cells (P = 0.060), caused by particularly lower numbers of lymphocytes as compared to control (P = 0.028). Highly reduced plasma urea was found for groups fed gluconic acid, it amounted to 2.6 and 2.6 mmol/L for the 9 and 18 g/kg level, respectively, as compared to 3.8 mmol/L in control (P = 0.003). Feeding gluconic acid promoted the relative abundance of lactic-acid-producing and acid-utilizing bacteria. In distal small intestine, Lactobacillus amylovorus increased substantially from 11.3 to 82.6% for control and gluconic acid 18 g/kg, respectively (P < 0.05). In mid-colon, the butyrate producers Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (P > 0.05) and Megasphaera elsdenii (P < 0.05) showed highest abundance in gluconic acid 18 g/kg. Consequently, in caecum and mid-colon, increased relative molar percentage of butyrate were found, e.g., 10.0, 12.9 et 14.7% in caecum for gluconic acid at 0, 9, and 18 g/kg, respectively (P = 0.046). Elevated mRNA anti-inflammatory cytokine and survival signalling levels in distal small intestinal mucosa were found by feeding gluconic acid which might be mediated by butyrate. Conclusions Gluconic acid may have potential to alleviate the postweaning growth-check in pigs by altering microbiota composition and fermentation in the gut.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-023-00305-1PigletWeaningGluconic acidButyrateLactobacillus amylovorusMegasphaera elsdenii |
| spellingShingle | Joris Michiels Damien Truffin Maryam Majdeddin Mario Van Poucke Elout Van Liefferinge Noémie Van Noten Mario Vandaele Céline Van Kerschaver Jeroen Degroote Luc Peelman Pierre Linder Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation Porcine Health Management Piglet Weaning Gluconic acid Butyrate Lactobacillus amylovorus Megasphaera elsdenii |
| title | Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation |
| title_full | Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation |
| title_fullStr | Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation |
| title_short | Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation |
| title_sort | gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation |
| topic | Piglet Weaning Gluconic acid Butyrate Lactobacillus amylovorus Megasphaera elsdenii |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-023-00305-1 |
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