Formula-feeding reduces lactose digestive capacity in neonatal pigs

Abstract

The intestine of newborn pigs develops rapidly during the first days postpartum. We investigated if feeding milk replacer (infant formula) as an alternative to colostrum has compromising effects on nutrient digestive function in the neonatal period. Nineteen piglets born at term were assigned to one of four treatments: (1) newborn controls; (2) natural suckling for 24 h; (3) tube-fed formula for 24 h; (4) tube-fed porcine colostrum for 24 h. All three fed groups showed significant increases in small-intestinal and colonic weights, villous heights and widths, maltase and aminopeptidase A activities, and decreases in dipeptidylpeptidase IV activity, relative to newborn pigs. Following oral boluses of mannitol, lactose or galactose, formula-fed pigs showed significantly reduced plasma levels of mannitol and galactose compared with colostrum-fed pigs. Activity of intestinal inducible NO synthase and plasma levels of cortisol were significantly increased, whereas intestinal constitutive NO synthase and a-tocopherol were decreased in formula-fed pigs compared with colostrum-fed pigs. Although formula-fed pigs only showed minor clinical signs of intestinal dysfunction and showed similar intestinal trophic responses just after birth, as those fed colostrum, lactose digestive capacity was markedly reduced. We conclude that formula-feeding may exert detrimental effects on intestinal function in neonates. Formula-induced subclinical malfunction of the gut in pigs born at term was associated with altered NO synthase activity and antioxidative capacity.

Antibiotics modulate intestinal immunity and prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonatal piglets

“…A bolus (15 ml/kg) of 5% galactose in 0.9% NaCl was given through the orogastric catheter, and a blood sample was taken 20 min later. Samples were kept on ice and centrifuged, and serum was kept at Ϫ20°C until later analyses of galactose concentration as previously described (64).…”

Similar efficacy of human banked milk and bovine colostrum to decrease incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm piglets

“…As galactose and glucose use the same Na ϩ /glucose-linked transporter (SGLT-1), it is a reliable estimate of hexose absorptive capacity. Blood samples were collected at 0 and 20 min and centrifuged (2,500 g, 4°C, 10 min), and plasma was kept at Ϫ20°C until later analyses of galactose concentration as previously described (36).…”

Spray Dried, Pasteurised Bovine Colostrum Protects Against Gut Dysfunction and Inflammation in Preterm Pigs

“…For all enzymes, 1 U of enzymatic activity was equal to hydrolysis of 1 μmol substrate/min at 37°C. To test the intestinal absorption capacity, an oral bolus of 15 ml /kg BW of a 5% galactose solution was given before, 6 h and 30 h after enteral food introduction and blood was collected after 20 min and analysed as previously described (23). For the latter two time points, the bolus was given at least 2.5 h after the previous feeding.…”