The Improvement of Semen Quality by Dietary Fiber Intake Is Positively Related With Gut Microbiota and SCFA in a Boar Model

Abstract

Although fiber-rich diets have been positively associated with sperm quality, there have not been any studies that have examined the effects of dietary fiber and its metabolites on sperm quality in young or pre-pubescent animals. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of dietary fiber supplementation on semen quality and the underlying mechanisms in a boar model. Sixty purebred Yorkshire weaning boars were randomly divided into the four groups (T1–T4). Groups T1, T2, and T3 boars were fed diets with different levels of fiber until reaching 160 days of age and were then fed the same diet, while group T4 boars were fed a basal diet supplemented with butyrate and probiotics. Compared with T1 boars, sperm motility and effective sperm number were significantly higher among T3 boars. Meanwhile, at 240 days of age, the acetic acid and total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents in the sera of T3 and T4 boars were significantly higher than those in T1 boars. The abundance of microbiota in T2 and T3 boars was significantly higher than that in T1 boars (P < 0.01). Moreover, dietary fiber supplementation increased “beneficial gut microbes” such as UCG-005, Rumenococcus, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Lactobacillus and decreased the relative abundance of “harmful microbes” such as Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Romboutsia and Turicibacter. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate that dietary fiber supplementation improves gut microbiota and promotes SCFA production, thereby enhancing spermatogenesis and semen quality. Moreover, the effects of dietary fiber are superior to those of derived metabolites.

Seminal plasma untargeted metabolomic and lipidomic profiling for the identification of a novel panel of biomarkers and therapeutic targets related to male infertility

“…Furthermore, butyrate is involved in maintaining the redox balance in rats ( Lin et al, 2014 ), which is vital for spermatogenesis ( Sênos Demarco and Jones, 2021 ). A recent study conducted on boars revealed that dietary fiber supplementation enhances gut microbiota and increases the production of total short-chain fatty acids, including butyric acid ( Lin et al, 2022 ). This, in turn, improves spermatogenesis and semen quality ( Lin et al, 2022 ).…”

“…A recent study conducted on boars revealed that dietary fiber supplementation enhances gut microbiota and increases the production of total short-chain fatty acids, including butyric acid ( Lin et al, 2022 ). This, in turn, improves spermatogenesis and semen quality ( Lin et al, 2022 ). These preliminary studies on animal models might suggest the potential role of Butyric acid in fertility impairment and its nutritional implications as a supplement to enhance sperm parameters in infertility.…”

Study on the correlation of supplementation with L-citrulline on the gastrointestinal flora and semen antifreeze performance of ram

“…This alteration reduces the number of spermatocytes and sperm in the seminiferous tubules of normal mice, resulting in decreased sperm quality (Zhang C. et al, 2021 ). Studies have demonstrated that dietary fiber supplementation can improve the intestinal flora of boars, stimulate the production of short-chain fatty acids, and improve spermatogenesis and semen quality (Lin et al, 2022 ).…”

Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract benefits cashmere goat semen quality via improving rumen microbiota and metabolome

“…Recently, Zhang et al showed that improving gut microbiota can affect sperm quality by regulating the function of the small intestine and the metabolome of plasma (17). Several other studies have also confirmed a causal relationship between the microbiota and spermatogenesis (18)(19)(20)(21). However, whether Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) and MOLE can contribute to the semen quality of cashmere goats by modulating rumen microbiota and metabolites remains unclear.…”