Dietary Alpha-Ketoglutarate Supplementation Improves Bone Growth, Phosphorus Digestion, and Growth Performance in Piglets
Junquan Tian,
Fan Yang,
Xuetai Bao,
Qian Jiang,
Yuying Li,
Kang Yao,
Yulong Yin
Affiliations
Junquan Tian
National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Fan Yang
National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Xuetai Bao
National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Qian Jiang
National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Yuying Li
Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China
Kang Yao
National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Yulong Yin
National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Phosphorus (P) pollution from modern swine production is a major environmental problem. Dietary interventions to promote bone growth can improve the utilization of dietary P, and thereby reduce its emission. Recent in vitro studies have shown that alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) exerts a pro-osteogenic effect on osteoblast cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of AKG supplementation on bone growth, P and Ca digestion, and the gut microbial profile in piglets. Thirty-two piglets were randomly assigned into two dietary groups. The piglets were fed a basic diet containing 10 g/kg AKG or 10 g/kg maize starch (control) for 28 days. On days 21–28, titanium dioxide was used as an indicator to determine the apparent digestibility of P. AKG supplementation improved the bone mineral density, length, weight, and geometrical and strength properties of the femur and tibia. Furthermore, AKG supplementation increased apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of P. Colonic microbiota analysis results showed that AKG supplementation increased α-diversity and beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Clostridium butyricum, and decreased nitrogen fixation and chemoheterotrophy. Together, AKG supplementation improves bone growth, the utilization of dietary P, and the colonic microbial profile, which may provide a nutritional strategy for diminishing P pollution originating from the pig industry.
