Frontiers in Microbiology (Dec 2022)

Modulating gut microbiota and metabolites with dietary fiber oat β-glucan interventions to improve growth performance and intestinal function in weaned rabbits

  • Li Ma,
  • Li Ma,
  • Zhengzhong Luo,
  • Yixin Huang,
  • Yan Li,
  • Jing Guan,
  • Tao Zhou,
  • Zhenlong Du,
  • Kang Yong,
  • Xueping Yao,
  • Liuhong Shen,
  • Shumin Yu,
  • Zhijun Zhong,
  • Yanchun Hu,
  • Guangneng Peng,
  • Xiaodong Shi,
  • Suizhong Cao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1074036
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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The effect of oat β-glucan on intestinal function and growth performance of weaned rabbits were explored by multi-omics integrative analyses in the present study. New Zealand White rabbits fed oat β-glucan [200 mg/kg body weight (BW)] for 4 weeks, and serum markers, colon histological alterations, colonic microbiome, colonic metabolome, and serum metabolome were measured. The results revealed that oat β-glucan increased BW, average daily gain (ADG), average daily food intake (ADFI), and decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contents, but did not affect colonic microstructure. Microbiota community analysis showed oat β-glucan modulated gut microbial composition and structure, increased the abundances of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Pediococcus, Bacillus, etc. Oat β-glucan also increased intestinal propionic acid, valeric acid, and butyric acid concentrations, decreased lysine and aromatic amino acid (AAA) derivative contents. Serum metabolite analysis revealed that oat β-glucan altered host carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. These results suggested that oat β-glucan could inhibit systemic inflammation and protect intestinal function by regulating gut microbiota and related metabolites, which further helps to improve growth performance in weaned rabbits.

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