Addition of Dairy Lipids and Probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum in Infant Formulas Modulates Proteolysis and Lipolysis With Moderate Consequences on Gut Physiology and Metabolism in Yucatan Piglets

Abstract

Breast milk is the gold standard in neonatal nutrition, but most infants are fed infant formulas in which lipids are usually of plant origin. The addition of dairy lipids and/or milk fat globule membrane extracts in formulas improves their composition with beneficial consequences on protein and lipid digestion. The probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum (Lf) was reported to reduce transit time in rat pups, which may also improve digestion. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the addition of dairy lipids in formulas, with or without Lf, on protein and lipid digestion and on gut physiology and metabolism. Piglets were suckled from postnatal days 2 to 28, with formulas containing either plant lipids (PL), a half-half mixture of plant and dairy lipids (DL), or this mixture supplemented with Lf (DL+Lf). At day 28, piglets were euthanized 90 min after their last feeding. Microstructure of digesta did not differ among formulas. Gastric proteolysis was increased (P < 0.01) in DL and DL+Lf (21.9 ± 2.1 and 22.6 ± 1.3%, respectively) compared with PL (17.3 ± 0.6%) and the residual proportion of gastric intact caseins decreased (p < 0.01) in DL+Lf (5.4 ± 2.5%) compared with PL and DL (10.6 ± 3.1% and 21.8 ± 6.8%, respectively). Peptide diversity in ileum and colon digesta was lower in PL compared to DL and DL+Lf. DL and DL+Lf displayed an increased (p < 0.01) proportion of diacylglycerol/cholesterol in jejunum and ileum digesta compared to PL and tended (p = 0.07) to have lower triglyceride/total lipid ratio in ileum DL+Lf (0.019 ± 0.003) as compared to PL (0.045 ± 0.011). The percentage of endocrine tissue and the number of islets in the pancreas were decreased (p < 0.05) in DL+Lf compared with DL. DL+Lf displayed a beneficial effect on host defenses [increased goblet cell density in jejunum (p < 0.05)] and a trophic effect [increased duodenal (p = 0.09) and jejunal (p < 0.05) weights]. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the addition of dairy lipids and probiotic Lf in infant formula modulated protein and lipid digestion, with consequences on lipid profile and with beneficial, although moderate, physiological effects.

Infant nutrition affects the microbiota-gut-brain axis: Comparison of human milk vs. infant formula feeding in the piglet model

“…Therefore, the reduced GLP1 content may result in a lower insulin secretion (80), corroborating the few data in the literature pointing to a lower insulinemic response in breastfed infants compared to IF fed infants (81). A similar effect of "pancreatic savings" has been previously observed in piglets supplemented with prebiotics or probiotics (50,82). In addition to its effects on insulin secretion, GLP1 also takes part in central regulation of food intake, emotional eating and mood (83).…”

Probiotics in the dairy industry—Advances and opportunities

“…infantis CECT7210 proved to be safe, well tolerated, and associated with reduced diarrhea episodes (Escribano et al., 2018). A recent study on piglets suggests that the addition of dairy lipids with L. fermentum in infant formulae modulates proteins and lipid digestion that have good consequences for gut physiology (Lemaire et al., 2021).…”

Bioactive Peptides: Synthesis, Sources, Applications, and Proposed Mechanisms of Action

“…From a nutritional point of view, the bioavailability of peptides is greater than that of proteins. In addition, smaller peptides have less allergenic effects than primary proteins, and as a result, the products of protein hydrolysis are widely used in infant formulas [6].…”