Evaluation of 2’-Fucosyllactose and Bifidobacterium longum Subspecies infantis on Growth, Organ Weights, and Intestinal Development of Piglets

Abstract

Human milk is rich in oligosaccharides that influence intestinal development and serve as prebiotics for the infant gut microbiota. Probiotics and 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) added individually to infant formula have been shown to influence infant development, but less is known about the effects of their synbiotic administration. Herein, the impact of formula supplementation with 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis Bi-26 (Bi-26), or 2’-FL + Bi-26 on weight gain, organ weights, and intestinal development in piglets was investigated. Two-day-old piglets (n = 53) were randomized in a 2 × 2 design to be fed a commercial milk replacer ad libitum without (CON) or with 1.0 g/L 2’-FL. Piglets in each diet were further randomized to receive either glycerol stock alone or Bi-26 (109 CFU) orally once daily. Body weights and food intake were monitored from postnatal day (PND) 2 to 33/34. On PND 34/35, animals were euthanized and intestine, liver and brain weights were assessed. Intestinal samples were collected for morphological analyses and measurement of disaccharidase activity. Dry matter of cecum and colon contents and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis abundance by RT-PCR were also measured. All diets were well tolerated, and formula intake did not differ among the treatment groups. Daily body weights were affected by 2’-FL, Bi-26, and day, but no interaction was observed. There was a trend (p = 0.075) for greater total body weight gain in CON versus all other groups. Jejunal and ascending colon histomorphology were unaffected by treatment; however, there were main effects of 2’-FL to increase (p = 0.040) and Bi-26 to decrease (p = 0.001) ileal crypt depth. The addition of 2’-FL and/or Bi-26 to milk replacer supported piglet growth with no detrimental effects on body and organ weights, or intestinal structure and function.

Influence of 2′-Fucosyllactose and Bifidobacterium longum Subspecies infantis Supplementation on Cognitive and Structural Brain Development in Young Pigs

“…Lastly, the disappearance of the effect of Bi-26 in the latency measure in the FLBI group suggests that the potential anxiolytic effect of Bi-26 may not translate to the synergistic effects of 2′-FL and Bi-26. This is consistent with the effect of 2′-FL on the presence of B. infantis in the ascending colon or rectum not translating to a synbiotic effect when co-administered with Bi-26 ( Daniels et al, 2022 ). Overall, further research is warranted to study potential anxiolytic effects of probiotics, especially B. infantis , and synbiotics with a properly validated behavioral model for anxiety in pigs.…”

“…In the present study, the effects of 2′-FL and B-26 individually and together on brain structural and behavioral development were assessed in young pigs. Results on growth performance and intestinal health outcomes of this study were previously reported ( Daniels et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Pigs were randomly assigned to four different treatment conditions, described below (section “Experimental Treatment Groups”), based on their initial body weights and litter of origin. Four pigs were excluded from behavioral testing and brain imaging and were only used to assess gastrointestinal development and function ( Daniels et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The control diet was a commercial milk replacer (ProNurse ® Specialty Milk Replacer, Land O’Lakes, North Arden Hills, MN, United States) supplemented with 0.532% lactose to match the same percentage of 2′-FL (CARE4U™, International Flavors and Fragrances, New York, NY, United States) supplementation in the test diet. Both control and test milk replacers were prepared in powder form (TestDiet, St. Louis, MO, United States) and the complete composition of the diets and test articles has been described previously ( Daniels et al, 2022 ). Milk replacer treatments were reconstituted fresh daily at 200 g of powder per 800 g of tap water.…”

“…Pigs were provided ad libitum access to liquid diets within a 20-h daily feeding cycle from 10:00 h to 06:00 h the following day from PND 2 to PND 34 or 35. Milk disappearance, body weight, and health observations were captured daily, and the overall health outcomes of pigs were reported separately ( Daniels et al, 2022 ).…”