Hydrogen-Rich Water and Lactulose Protect Against Growth Suppression and Oxidative Stress in Female Piglets Fed Fusarium Toxins Contaminated Diets

Abstract

The objective of the current experiment was to evaluate whether hydrogen-rich water (HRW) or lactulose (LAC) could protect against the adverse effects of Fusarium mycotoxins-contaminated diet on the growth performance and antioxidant status in weaning piglets. A total of 24 individually housed female piglets were randomly assigned to receive four treatments for 25 days (six pigs/treatment): uncontaminated basal diet (negative control), mycotoxin-contaminated (MC) diet, MC diet + HRW (MC + HRW) and MC diet + LAC (MC + LAC). The plasma hydrogen levels before and after 2 h hydrogen-free water/HRW administration were detected at day 21, and the liver hydrogen levels were detected at the end of the experiment. Serum hormones related to appetite regulation, and serum and liver oxidant and antioxidant status were also measured at the end of the experiment. Results showed that both HRW and LAC treatments significantly attenuated the reduction of average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) caused by Fusarium mycotoxins. LAC administration increased the hydrogen concentrations in plasma and liver. HRW treated group had higher plasma hydrogen levels than the MC group. Compared with the NC group, the MC group had significantly increased serum peptide YY (PYY) and cholecystokinin (CCK) levels. Interestingly, both HRW and LAC administrations had a lower reduced serum PYY and CKK levels. Most importantly, oral administration of HRW and LAC attenuated the Fusarium mycotoxins-induced oxidative stress. In conclusion, oral administration of hydrogen-rich water or lactulose could both protect against the growth reduction and oxidative damage caused by Fusarium mycotoxins.

Intestinal Microbiota Ecological Response to Oral Administrations of Hydrogen-Rich Water and Lactulose in Female Piglets Fed a Fusarium Toxin-Contaminated Diet

“…Consumption of DON- and ZEN-contaminated feeds will induce intoxication symptoms, including vomiting, abdominal distress, malaise, diarrhea emesis, and even shock or death [ 3 ]. In the present study, lower feed intake and weight gain [ 31 ], fever, and severe diarrhea were observed in piglets fed a Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated diet. A lower fecal score has been considered a good indicator of gut health [ 32 ].…”

“…A previously study on piglets showed that 1% lactulose supplementation had higher growth performance [ 37 ]. Additionally, our previous study also suggested that lactulose could improve anti-oxidant capacity of piglets fed a mycotoxin-contaminated diet [ 31 ]. Although no studies explored the effects of HRW on diarrhea, a protective effect of HRW was found on DSS-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in rats, and intestinal villi damage in mice [ 10 ].…”

Protective Role of Hydrogen Gas on Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis in Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cells (IPEC-J2) Induced by Deoxynivalenol: A Preliminary Study

“…Collectively, this study suggests that H 2 application precisely protects IPEC-J2 cells against oxidative damage and apoptosis induced by DON in vitro. Furthermore, the present in vitro research and previous results in piglets [23,24,53] could potentially contribute to the implication and application of H 2 as a novel solution to alleviate intestinal damage induced by mycotoxins in swine production in the future.…”

“…Recent studies verified the toxic effects of DON on porcine intestinal epithelial cells when used with IPEC-J2 cells [7,21,22]. We previously reported that the oral administration of hydrogen-saturated water can moderately compensate grow suppression and intestinal damages in piglets induced by a Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated diet [23,24]. Therefore, IPEC-J2 cells are very suitable for exploring whether hydrogen may directly have protective effects against oxidative damage and apoptosis induced by DON in vitro.…”

“…Sealed aluminum bags were used for the storage of H 2 -saturated medium. The concentration of H 2 in medium was determined by a hydrogen sensor (Unisense, Aarhus, Denmark) based on the method in our previous experiments [24]. When the H 2 -saturated medium was prepared freshly, its concentration was at 0.61 ± 0.03 mM.…”