Age Rather Than Supplementation with Oat β-Glucan Influences Development of the Intestinal Microbiota and SCFA Concentrations in Suckling Piglets
Lidija Arapovic,
Yi Huang,
Elin Manell,
Else Verbeek,
Linda Keeling,
Li Sun,
Rikard Landberg,
Torbjörn Lundh,
Jan Erik Lindberg,
Johan Dicksved
Affiliations
Lidija Arapovic
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Yi Huang
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Elin Manell
Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Else Verbeek
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Linda Keeling
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Li Sun
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Rikard Landberg
Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Division of Food and Nutrition Science, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Torbjörn Lundh
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Jan Erik Lindberg
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Johan Dicksved
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
The effects of early supplementation with oat β-glucan during the suckling period on piglet gut microbiota composition, concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, and gut physiological markers were assessed. Fifty piglets from five litters, balanced for sex and birth weight, were divided within litters into two treatment groups: β-glucan and control. Piglets in the β-glucan group received the supplement three times/week from day 7 of age until weaning. Rectal swab samples were collected from 10 piglets per treatment group (balanced across litters) from week 1 to week 4, and plasma samples were collected at 1, 3, and 4 weeks of age. Additional samples of intestinal tissues and jugular and portal vein plasma were collected from 10 animals at weaning (one per treatment group and litter). The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in plasma and the microbiota composition in rectal swabs were mainly influenced by piglet age, rather than the supplement. There were significant differences in microbiota composition between litters and several correlations between concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in plasma and specific microbial taxa in rectal swabs. Overall, β-glucan supplementation did not have any clear impact on the gut environment in suckling piglets, whereas a clear age-related pattern emerged.
