Maternal Dietary Fiber Composition during Gestation Induces Changes in Offspring Antioxidative Capacity, Inflammatory Response, and Gut Microbiota in a Sow Model.

Yang Li,Bin Feng,Zhengfeng Fang,Jian Li,De Wu,Yan Lin,Shengyu Xu,Yong Zhuo,Lianqiang Che,Haoyu Liu,Lijia Zhang,Yi Yang

doi:10.3390/ijms21010031

Abstract

To study the effects of maternal dietary fiber composition during gestation on offspring antioxidant capacity, inflammation, and gut microbiota composition, we randomly assigned 64 gilts to four treatments and administered diets with an insoluble/soluble fiber ratio of 3.89 (R1), 5.59 (R2), 9.12 (R3), and 12.81 (R4). Sow samples (blood and feces at gestation 110) and neonatal samples (blood, liver, and colonic contents) were collected. The results showed that sows and piglets in R1 and R2 had higher antioxidant enzyme activity and lower pro-inflammatory factor levels than those in R3 and R4. Moreover, piglets in R1 and R2 had higher liver mRNA expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and lower NF-κB than piglets in R4. Interestingly, maternal fiber composition not only affected the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in sow feces but also influenced the concentrations of SCFAs in the neonatal colon. Results of high-throughput sequencing showed that piglets as well as sows in R1 and R2 had microbial community structures distinct from those in R3 and R4. Therefore, the composition of dietary fiber in pregnancy diet had an important role in improving antioxidant capacity and decreasing inflammatory response of mothers and their offspring through modulating the composition of gut microbiota.

Highlights

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are constantly generated from oxygen in all aerobic metabolism and pathogenic processes [1]
The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the plasma in piglets was significantly higher in R1 and R2 than in R4 (p < 0.05)
Newborns are vulnerable to free radical oxidative damage, resulting in oxidative stress [23], because neonates (i) are often exposed to high oxygen concentrations, (ii) have diminished antioxidant activity, and (iii) have infections or inflammation due to environmental microbiota

Summary

Introduction

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are constantly generated from oxygen in all aerobic metabolism and pathogenic processes [1]. Oxidative stress occurs when the balance between the generation of ROS and the antioxidant defense capacity of the body is destroyed [2]. ROS play an important role in the onset of many diseases, such as periventricular leukomalacia, chronic lung disease, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia [4]. Neonates are especially prone to oxidative stress, because they are often exposed to high oxygen concentrations due to the rapid passage from the intrauterine to the extrauterine environment, and they have limited antioxidant defense [4]. Improving antioxidant capacity in newborns is crucial

Methods

Results

Conclusion