Dietary Supplementation with Trihexanoin Enhances Intestinal Function of Weaned Piglets.

Tao Wu,Guoyao Wu,Binying Ding,Yongqing Hou,Yang Lv,Kang Li,Dan Yi,Lei Wang,Lin Zhang,Hongbo Chen,Di Zhao

doi:10.3390/ijms19103277

Abstract

Trihexanoin is a short-chain triglyceride (SCT). Many studies have reported that SCTs play important roles in the maintenance of intestinal epithelial structure and function. The present work was to investigate the effects of trihexanoin on growth performance, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, as well as intestinal morphology and function in weaned piglets. Twenty weaned piglets (21 ± 2 d) were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups: The control group (basal diet supplemented with 0.5% soya oil); the TH group (basal diet supplemented with 0.5% trihexanoin). Dietary trihexanoin supplementation significantly reduced diarrhea rate; increased the concentrations of LDL, HDL and total protein in plasma; decreased cholesterol concentrations and glutamyl transpeptidase activity in plasma; improved intestinal morphologic structure; altered the mRNA levels and abundances of proteins related to glycogen and fat metabolism, mucosal barrier function, antioxidant capacity and water transport capacity; and altered the community of intestinal microflora. These results indicate that dietary trihexanoin supplementation could reduce diarrhea, regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism, exert beneficial effects on the intestinal mucosal barrier, protect the intestinal mucosa from injuries, improve intestinal transport and absorption, and enhance antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 0.5% trihexanoin improves the intestinal function and health of weaned piglets.

Highlights

In recent years, the feeding stage of piglets has become one of the most important aspects in the swine industry [1]
Short-chain triglyceride (SCT), which is formed by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and glycerol, plays an important role in maintaining intestinal morphological structure and function, which could be one way to alleviate the weaning problems [5]
A major finding of this study is that diarrhea rate was markedly reduced by trihexanoin supplementation, indicating that trihexanoin could effectively relieve diarrhea in weaned piglets

Summary

Introduction

The feeding stage of piglets has become one of the most important aspects in the swine industry [1]. The long-term occurrence of these symptoms caused by weaning could lead to high rates of morbidity and mortality of piglets [1]. This causes economic losses in pig production, and increases public health risks due to the production of pathogenic bacteria-infected pork, which has troubled the global pig industry for many years [4]. Results of recent research indicated that SCFA can modulate intestinal pH, alleviate intestinal-mucosal injury under weaning stress [7], inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, and regulate immune responses [8]. In addition to food sources, SCFA is mainly produced by the microbial fermentation of non-digestible sugar in the colon and cecum [9]

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Discussion

Conclusion