Abstract
BackgroundMilk formulas have higher protein contents than human milk. This high protein level could modify the development of intestinal microbiota, epithelial barrier and immune functions and have long-term consequences.Methodology/Principal findingsWe investigated the effect of a high protein formula on ileal microbiota and physiology during the neonatal period and later in life. Piglets were fed from 2 to 28 days of age either a normoprotein (NP, equivalent to sow milk) or a high protein formula (HP, +40% protein). Then, they received the same solid diet until 160 days. During the formula feeding period ileal microbiota implantation was accelerated in HP piglets with greater concentrations of ileal bacteria at d7 in HP than NP piglets. Epithelial barrier function was altered with a higher permeability to small and large probes in Ussing chambers in HP compared to NP piglets without difference in bacterial translocation. Infiltration of T cells was increased in HP piglets at d28. IL-1β and NF-κB sub-units mRNA levels were reduced in HP piglets at d7 and d28 respectively; plasma haptoglobin also tended to be reduced at d7. Later in life, pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion in response to high doses of LPS in explants culture was reduced in HP compared to NP piglets. Levels of mRNA coding the NF-κB pathway sub-units were increased by the challenge with LPS in NP piglets, but not HP ones.Conclusions/SignificanceA high protein level in formula affects the postnatal development of ileal microbiota, epithelial barrier and immune function in piglets and alters ileal response to inflammatory mediators later in life.
Highlights
Human breast milk is the optimal nutrition during infancy, many infants are still formula-fed for practical or medical reasons
Similar increase in daily weight gain during the formula-feeding period was observed with HP piglets in the follow-up experiment
Ileal microbiota during the neonatal period To test our hypothesis of a stimulatory effect of the HP formula on microbiota growth, we measured the concentration of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in ileal contents
Summary
Human breast milk is the optimal nutrition during infancy, many infants are still formula-fed for practical or medical reasons. The use of high protein formula is still encouraged in at risk populations such as low birth weight babies who had suffered intra-uterine growth restriction to ensure a rapid post-natal catch up growth [3,4]. Such nutritional practice seems to have long-term metabolic consequences [5,6]. Milk formulas have higher protein contents than human milk This high protein level could modify the development of intestinal microbiota, epithelial barrier and immune functions and have long-term consequences
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