Effect of gluconic acid on piglet growth performance, intestinal microflora, and intestinal wall morphology1

Abstract

Gluconic acid (GA) derives from the incomplete oxidation of glucose by some Gluconobacter strains. When fed to nonruminant animals, GA is only poorly absorbed in the small intestine and is primarly fermented to butyric acid in the lower gut. This study investigated the effect of GA on in vitro growth response and metabolism of swine cecal microflora and on animal growth performance, intestinal wall morphology, and intestinal microflora. During a 24-h in vitro cecal fermentation, total gas production and maximum rate of gas production were increased by GA (linear, P < 0.001). Ammonia in cecal liquor was reduced by GA after 4, 8, and 24 h of fermentation (quadratic, P < 0.01). After 24 h of fermentation, total short-chain fatty acids, acetic acid, propionic acid, n-butyric acid, acetic to propionic acid ratio, and acetic + butyric to propionic acid ratio were linearly increased by GA (P < 0.001). In the in vivo study, 48 piglets were divided into 4 groups and housed in individual cages for 6 wk. Piglets received a basal diet with a) no addition (control) or with GA addition at b) 3,000 ppm, c) 6,000 ppm, or d) 12,000 ppm. After 6 wk, 4 animals per treatment were killed, and samples of intestinal content and mucosa were collected. Compared with control, GA tended to increase average daily gain (+13 and +14% for GA at 3,000 and 6,000 ppm, respectively; P of the model = 0.11; quadratic, P < 0.05). Daily feed consumption and gain to feed ratio were not influenced by GA. Intestinal counts of clostridia, enterobacteriaceae, and lactic acid bacteria were not affected by GA. Gluconic acid tended to increase total short-chain fatty acids in the jejunum (+174, +87, and +74% for GA at 3,000, 6,000, and 12,000 ppm, respectively; P of the model = 0.07; quadratic, P = 0.07). Morphological evaluation of intestinal mucosa from jejunum, ileum, and cecum did not show any significant differences among treatments. This study showed that feeding GA influences the composition and activity of the intestinal microflora and may improve growth performance of piglets after weaning.

Effects of glucose oxidase on the growth performance, serum parameters and faecal microflora of piglets

“…The reason is probably that the function of GOD is to act as an antibacterial agent through the production of gluconic acid and H 2 O 2 . Biagi et al (2006) demonstrated that feeding gluconic acid positively influenced the composition and activity of the intestinal microflora of piglets after weaning. It has been reported that sustained oxidative stress through the maintenance of low concentration of H 2 O 2 by GOD's continued catalytic activity to be effective against pathogenic bacteria (Dobbenie et al, 1995;Wu et al, 1995).…”

“…Two products of GOD hydrolysis are H 2 O 2 and gluconic acid, which may act as a bacteriocide (Crueger & Crueger, 1990;Rasiah et al, 2005;Costa et al, 2013) and acidity regulator (Nakao et al, 1997;Klein et al, 2002) to reduce the gastric pH, inhibit harmful bacteria and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. Biagi et al (2006) reported that feeding gluconic acid can improve the growth performance of piglets after weaning. With large-scale production of GOD by fermentation, it is possible to achieve commercial application of GOD in the feed industry (Gao et al, 2012).…”

Desempenho E Características Morfo- Intestinais De Leitoas Desmamadas Alimentadas Com Dietas Contendo Associações De Mananoligossacarídeo

“…Da mesma forma, Biagi et al (2006) não notaram efeito dos níveis (0, 3, 6 e 12 ppm) de gluconato de sódio sobre a profundidade de cripta e altura de vilosidade do jejuno, íleo e ceco de suínos aos 70 dias de idade.…”

Analysis of the effect of dietary protected organic acid blend on lactating sows and their piglets

“…In addition, Ahmed et al (2014) stated that blends of organic acid supplementation reduce E. coli count and increase Lactobacilli population in weaned pigs. Biagi et al (2006) described a favourable effect of gluconic acid on intestinal microflora, morphology of intestinal villi, and general condition of piglets. Several studies documenting an improvement in growth efficiency have been reported in the literature (Missotten et al, 2009).…”