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Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Status by β-Carotene in Late Pregnant Sows

Authors :
Xupeng Yuan
Jiahao Yan
Ruizhi Hu
Yanli Li
Ying Wang
Hui Chen
De-Xing Hou
Jianhua He
Shusong Wu
Source :
Frontiers in Nutrition, Vol 7 (2020)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2020.

Abstract

Recent evidences suggest that gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating physiological and metabolic activities of pregnant sows, and β-carotene has a potentially positive effect on reproduction, but the impact of β-carotene on gut microbiota in pregnant sows remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanisms of β-carotene on the reproductive performance of sows from the aspect of gut microbiota. A total of 48 hybrid pregnant sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) with similar parity were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 16) and fed with a basal diet or a diet containing 30 or 90 mg/kg of β-carotene from day 90 of gestation until parturition. Dietary supplementation of 30 or 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the number of live birth to 11.82 ± 1.54 and 12.29 ± 2.09, respectively, while the control group was 11.00 ± 1.41 (P = 0.201). Moreover, β-carotene increased significantly the serum nitric oxide (NO) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (P < 0.05). Characterization of fecal microbiota revealed that 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the diversity of the gut flora (P < 0.05). In particular, β-carotene decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes including Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, Lachnospiraceae NK4B4 group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-008, but enriched Proteobacteria including Bilophila and Sutterella, and Actinobacteria including Corynebacterium and Corynebacterium 1 which are related to NO synthesis. These data demonstrated that dietary supplementation of β-carotene may increase antioxidant enzyme activity and NO, an important vasodilator to promote the neonatal blood circulation, through regulating gut microbiota in sows.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2296861X
Volume :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Nutrition
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.4ab95a452cd648e4a6873d98006cc342
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.612875