Millet-based supplement restored gut microbial diversity of acute malnourished pigs

Abstract

The tight association between malnutrition and gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis enables microbiota-targeting intervention to be a promising strategy. Thus, we used a malnourished pig model to investigate the host response and GM alterations under different diet supplementation strategies. Pigs at age of 4 weeks were fed with pure maize diet to induce malnutrition symptoms, and followed by continuous feeding with maize (Maize, n = 8) or re-feeding using either corn-soy-blend (CSB+, n = 10) or millet-soy-blend based (MSB+, n = 10) supplementary food for 3 weeks. Meanwhile, 8 pigs were fed on a standard formulated ration as control (Ref). The effect of nutritional supplementation was assessed by the growth status, blood chemistry, gastrointestinal pathology, mucosal microbiota composition and colon production of short-chain fatty acids. Compared with purely maize-fed pigs, both CSB+ and MSB+ elevated the concentrations of total protein and globulin in blood. These pigs still showed most malnutrition symptoms after the food intervention period. MSB+ had superior influence on the GM development, exhibiting better performance in both structural and functional aspects. MSB+ pigs were colonized by less Proteobacteria but more Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Lachnospira spp. Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated a strong correlation between the abundance of mucosal e.g., Faecalibacterium and Lachnospira spp. and body weight, crown-rump length and total serum protein. In conclusion, the malnutrition symptoms were accompanied by an aberrant GM, and millet-based nutritional supplementation showed promising potentials to restore the reduced GM diversity implicated in pig malnutrition.

Impact of feeding dried distillers’ grains with solubles diet on microbiome and metabolome of ruminal and cecal contents in Guanling yellow cattle

“…Similar to other studies ( Kim et al, 2022 ), Bacteroidetes , Firmicutes , and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla in all samples, and the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were increased in the DDGS-R group. Both Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes are key participants in fiber fermentation and carbohydrate degradation, producing multiple cellulases to hydrolyze macromolecular compounds such as cellulose and sugars ( Chen et al, 2019 ; Li X. et al, 2021 ), which facilitates fat deposition, milk fat production and nutrient digestion and absorption ( Spence et al, 2006 ; Brulc et al, 2009 ; Jami et al, 2014 ). Proteobacteria , whose abundance was increased in DDGS-C group, has been evidenced to be involved in the degradation and fermentation of biopolymers ( Zhang Z. et al, 2021 ).…”

The Beneficial Effect of Coarse Cereals on Chronic Diseases through Regulating Gut Microbiota

“…Furthermore, a Pearson's correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation between the abundances of Faecalibacterium and Lachnospira spp. and body weight, crown-rump length and total serum protein [158]. Previously, a low abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was found in the intestines of malnourished children and malnourished pigs in Bangladesh [159].…”

Millets as a Novel Solution for PCOS Management: a Review

“…They also have anti-inflammatory characteristics, which are shown by lower levels of inflammatory markers including IL-6 and TNF-α [12]. Furthermore, the abundance of antioxidants in them reduces oxidative stress, which is a prevalent feature in PCOS [15]. These results highlight the value of millets as a dietary supplement for treating metabolic abnormalities associated with PCOS.…”