Hydrolysed yeast from Kluyveromyces fragilis improves plasma antioxidant efficiency and immunoglobulin concentration, and faecal microbiota of weaned piglets

Fucoidan Supplementation Improves Antioxidant Capacity via Regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway and Mitochondrial Function in Low-Weaning Weight Piglets

“…Weaning usually induces an increase of ROS in piglets, particularly in low-weaning weight piglets; consequently, weaning can disrupt the balance of oxidation reduction, reduce antioxidant capacity, cause oxidative stress and oxidative damage in the tissues and intestine, and potentially lead to diarrhea, inhibited growth, and even death [5,7,[27][28][29]. It is well understood that piglets with a lower weaning weight are more susceptible to postweaning challenges than pigs with a heavier weaning weight [5,30].…”

“…The free radical metabolism and antioxidant systems of piglets may undergo disruption after weaning, thereby instigating oxidative stress responses, which have the potential to interfere with the host's antioxidant system and disrupt the cellular redox equilibrium [7,8,38,39]. The antioxidant defense system, which primarily comprises antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px, along with other non-enzymatic antioxidants, can eliminate ROS [40,41].…”

“…At present, research focusing on enhancing the body's antioxidant capacity through the inclusion of functional additives in the diet is gaining increasing attention. Previous studies in our laboratory have found that functional feed additives can enhance the antioxidant capacity of piglets [7,8], improve mitochondrial function [9], and promote the growth of piglets. Recent research in our laboratory has revealed that functional feed additives can improve the antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and optimize their mitochondrial function, thus effectively reducing the oxidative damage of paraquat to the liver [16].…”

“…The digestive system of these low-weaning weight piglets is not fully mature, the growth rate is relatively slow, the resistance to external stimuli is poor, and the diarrhea incidence and mortality rate are often high [3][4][5]. Early weaning would trigger a series of complex physiological and psychological reactions in piglets, including changing eating habits and adapting to the new social environment, which may lead to their physiological and immune function abnormalities, causing serious oxidative stress [6,7]. Oxidative stress is due to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that exceeds the processing capacity of the antioxidant system, so maintaining the redox balance within cells is crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis [8,9].…”

Laminaria japonica Polysaccharides Improves the Growth Performance and Faecal Digestive Enzyme Activity of Weaned Piglets

“…However, the lack of digestive enzyme secretion in piglets after weaning causes a decrease in digestion and absorption capacities, which results in insufficient energy intake, and, eventually, inhibits the growth potential of weaned piglets. In addition, piglets develop dyspepsia and diarrhoea 1–2 weeks post-weaning [ 18 ] due to the fact that lipase and trypsin activity in the intestine increases exponentially each week from 1 to 28 days of age; however, digestive enzyme activity decreases to one-third of the pre-weaning level one week post-weaning and takes two weeks to return to or exceed the pre-weaning level [ 19 ]. As a result, piglets utilize fewer nutrients for carbohydrates and fats in non-dairy feeds during the first week of the transition from milk to solid feed.…”