Tannic acid prevents post-weaning diarrhea by improving intestinal barrier integrity and function in weaned piglets

Abstract

Background: Tannic acid (TA) is potential to reduce diarrhea in weaning pigs, but knowledge about the influence of TA on intestinal barrier integrity and function is still scarce. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary TA supplementation on growth performance, diarrhea rate, intestinal barrier integrity and function of weaned pigs. Methods: A total of 108 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) piglets, with an initial average body weight of 6.60 ± 0.27 kg, were allotted to 3 groups (6 pigs/pen and 6 replicates/group) in a randomized complete block design according to their gender and body weight. Piglets were fed the basal diet with 0 (control, CON), 0.2% and 1.0% TA, respectively. The trial lasted for 28 d. Results: Compared with the CON group, dietary 0.2% and 1.0% TA supplementation didn't affect ADFI, ADG and F: G (P > 0.05), but reduced diarrhea rate, diarrhea index and diarrhea score of piglets (P < 0.05), reduced diamine oxidase (DAO) activity and D-lactic acid concentration in serum (P < 0.01). The higher occludin expression and localization were observed in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum after supplementation with 0.2% or 1.0% TA (P < 0.05). Adding 0.2% TA to diet significantly decreased crypt depth, increased villus height/crypt depth ratio in the duodenum (P < 0.05), and dietary 1.0% TA tended to decrease crypt depth (P < 0.10) and significantly decreased villus height (P < 0.05) of the ileum. Moreover, lower malondialdehyde content in the ileum was detected in the pigs fed 1.0% TA (P < 0.05). In the duodenum, both 0.2% and 1.0% TA groups had higher occludin (OCLN) mRNA and 0.2% TA group had higher zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2) level (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, dietary 1.0% TA supplementation tended to up-regulate OCLN mRNA levels in the jejunum (P < 0.10) and 0.2% TA supplementation tended to up-regulate zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) mRNA levels in the ileum (P < 0.10). Conclusion: In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 0.2% or 1.0% TA could effectively alleviate postweaning diarrhea without altering growth performance in weaned piglets, which might be achieved by improving intestinal barrier integrity and function.

Evaluation of Tannin Extracts, Leonardite and Tributyrin Supplementation on Diarrhoea Incidence and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Piglets

“…The decrease in diarrhoea incidence and the positive effect on faecal consistency could be related to the in-feed supplementation of the mixture of functional compounds. These results are in line with other results showing a reduction in diarrhoea related to the inclusion of tannin extracts, leonardite and tributyrin individually supplemented in animal diets, and proposed as a valuable alternative to antibiotics for weaned piglets [28,[55][56][57]. Intestinal integrity supported by tributyrin has been widely demonstrated in the literature, due to the release of three butyric acid molecules in the gut.…”

Dietary resveratrol attenuation of intestinal inflammation and oxidative damage is linked to the alteration of gut microbiota and butyrate in piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol

“…Several indices, such as DAO and D-lactate activity, are commonly used to assess intestinal barrier function [ 41 , 42 ]. Some recent studies have demonstrated that polyphenols, such as tannic acid, RES and pterostilbene significantly diminish plasma DAO and D - lactate concentrations [ 12 , 43 ]. Consistent with these observations, our results found that supplementation with RES significantly reduced the levels of plasma DAO and D-lactate in weaned piglets.…”

Effects of the antimicrobial peptide WK3 on diarrhea, growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88

“…Diarrhea and growth performance Diarrhea is a condition frequently reported in weaned piglets, which severely affects growth performance of piglets and restricts the development of pig farming (15). Enrofloxacin has been regarded as a therapeutic agent for treating diarrhea in weaned pigs, which is not suitable for modern agriculture due to its resistance and residue.…”

“…The diarrheal index was based on the fecal consistency scoring system (0, normal; 1, soft feces; 2, mild diarrhea; and 3, severe diarrhea), as described previously. A fecal score of 2 or 3 was considered clinical diarrhea ( 15 ).…”