Application of fructo-oligosaccharide in improvement of growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets and nutrition regulation additive of fructo-oligosaccharide

Abstract

The invention discloses application of fructo-oligosaccharide in improvement of growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets and a nutrition regulator of the fructo-oligosaccharide, the fructo-oligosaccharide is applied to the suckling piglets as an early nutrition intervention means, the intestinal villus height of the suckling piglets is remarkably increased, the crypt depth is reduced, and the growth performance of the suckling piglets is improved. The improvement of the activity of small intestine disacidase and the change of small intestine stem cell differentiation marker gene mRNA indicates that the fructo-oligosaccharide improves the growth performance of the suckling piglets by promoting the intestinal tissue morphology, digestion and absorption functions and small intestine stem cell differentiation capacity of the suckling piglets.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of animal nutritional additives, specifically relating to the application of fructooligosaccharides in improving the growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets and their use as feed additives. Background Technology

[0002] Piglets are the foundation of the entire pig industry. In intensive farming, problems such as diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, and intestinal epithelial damage in piglets lead to excessively high mortality rates, causing huge economic losses and hindering the development of the pig industry. The development of the gastrointestinal tract in piglets is a very complex process that begins before birth and continues after birth. The intestinal tract of piglets is not fully developed, making them susceptible to invasion by various pathogens, leading to diarrhea and intestinal inflammation.

[0003] The digestive organs of piglets are fully formed during fetal development. Studies have found that significant changes occur in intestinal gene expression between days 90 and 110 of the embryonic period, involving hormonal regulation, nutrient metabolism, immune signaling, and neuronal development. In the first six weeks after birth, the intestine undergoes rapid development, with morphological, functional, and immunological changes. The main driver of intestinal development is the rapid proliferation of intestinal cells. Intestinal epithelial cell proliferation is highly active, driven by intestinal stem cells. Both quiescent and active intestinal stem cells exist in the intestines of piglets from birth to weaning, and their proliferation and differentiation are influenced by various factors. The intestine is a vital organ for the digestion and absorption of nutrients in piglets, and its development is extremely important for their growth. The condition of intestinal development directly affects the health of piglets. Many factors influence intestinal development, and regulating intestinal development through nutritional intervention is an important approach.

[0004] Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are inulin-type oligosaccharides widely found in various plants, typically composed of 3-19 fructose units polymerized with β-(2,1) glycosidic bonds. Previous studies have found that supplementing 14-day-old piglets with polydextrose and short-chain fructooligosaccharides can increase the activity of disaccharidases in the piglet's intestine. Studies by Chuanlai Xu et al. have found that adding 4% FOS at birth significantly reduces the feed conversion ratio and diarrhea rate in weaned piglets, increases intestinal villus height and goblet cell count, and increases the content of isobutyric acid, butyric acid, and total short-chain fatty acids in the cecum. Other studies have found that FOS can improve the growth performance and intestinal damage in weaned piglets challenged with toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Supplementation with low doses of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (1 g / d) can improve the growth performance of suckling piglets and reduce post-weaning mortality to 0%. Adding 4 g / kg and 6 g / kg of fructooligosaccharides to the diet significantly increased the activities of total protease, trypsin, and amylase in the small intestine of finishing pigs, and significantly increased jejunal villus height and villus-to-crypto ratio. Literature review and analysis revealed that current research on fructooligosaccharides mainly focuses on improving the growth performance, intestinal morphology, and intestinal health of weaned piglets and finishing pigs, with limited research on the growth and development of suckling piglets and their intestinal development. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Purpose of the invention: The purpose of this invention is to provide the application of fructooligosaccharides in improving the growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets and its nutritional regulatory additive.

[0006] Technical solution:

[0007] The application of the fructooligosaccharides described in this invention in improving the growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets.

[0008] The present invention relates to the application of fructooligosaccharides in the preparation of nutritional regulators for improving the growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets.

[0009] Preferably, the improvement of growth performance in suckling piglets refers to increasing the weight of suckling piglets.

[0010] Preferably, the improvement of intestinal development in suckling piglets is to promote the expression of small intestinal growth factors IGF1, IGF1R, EGE and / or GLP2 in suckling piglets.

[0011] Preferably, the improvement of intestinal development in suckling piglets refers to increasing the length and weight of the small intestine in suckling piglets.

[0012] Preferably, the improvement of intestinal development in suckling piglets is to increase the villus-cryptotropy ratio in the small intestine of suckling piglets.

[0013] Preferably, the improvement of intestinal development in suckling piglets is to increase the activity of maltase, lactase, and / or sucrase in the ileum of suckling piglets.

[0014] Preferably, the suckling piglets are 1-21 day old suckling piglets.

[0015] The fructooligosaccharides mentioned herein are used as a nutritional regulator or drug additive in animal feed to improve the growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets.

[0016] Preferably, the amount of fructooligosaccharide used is 3~10 g / day / head.

[0017] Extraction and purification of fructooligosaccharides:

[0018] Crush dried chicory roots and mix them with purified water at 70-80°C at a ratio of 1:10, stirring for 1-2 hours. Separate the extracted slurry to obtain a crude fructooligosaccharide extract. Add 1-2% (w / v) food-grade activated carbon to the crude extract and stir at 70°C for 30 minutes to adsorb pigments and polyphenols, while also adsorbing some proteins. Filter again to remove the activated carbon. Use an ultrafiltration membrane with a molecular weight cutoff of approximately 10,000-20,000 Daltons to remove large protein molecules, colloids, starch, and residual plant fiber particles, while allowing small sugar and salt molecules to pass through, thus performing preliminary purification. The clarified ultrafiltration solution is passed sequentially through a strong acid cation exchange resin column and a strong base anion exchange resin column to remove most of the cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, etc.) and anions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, PO₄³⁻, etc.) from the extract, significantly reducing ash content and further removing residual pigments and organic acids, thus improving product purity. The purified solution is concentrated under vacuum (60~65℃) to a solids content of approximately 50~70%. The concentrated syrup is then fed into a spray drying tower and flash-dried by a high-temperature airflow to obtain a white or pale yellow fructooligosaccharide powder (inlet air temperature typically 180~200℃, outlet air temperature 80-90℃) with a purity ≥95%.

[0019] Mechanism of Invention: During the later stages of lactation, the growth rate and intestinal development of piglets decrease due to the reduced nutritional level of maternal milk. This invention utilizes fructooligosaccharides (FOS) as an early nutritional intervention method applied to suckling piglets. FOS improves the growth performance of suckling piglets by promoting intestinal tissue morphology, digestive and absorptive functions, and small intestinal stem cell differentiation capacity.

[0020] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages: (1) The present invention uses fructooligosaccharides as an early nutritional intervention method and applies it to suckling piglets to promote the morphology of intestinal tissue, digestive and absorptive functions and small intestinal stem cell differentiation ability of suckling piglets, thereby improving the growth performance of suckling piglets; (2) Early fructooligosaccharide intervention can significantly increase the length and weight of the small intestine of suckling piglets; (3) Early fructooligosaccharide intervention can significantly improve the morphology of the jejunum tissue of suckling piglets; (4) Early fructooligosaccharide intervention can significantly improve the morphology of the ileum tissue of suckling piglets; (5) Early fructooligosaccharide intervention can significantly increase the disaccharidase activity of the small intestine of suckling piglets; (6) Early fructooligosaccharide intervention can significantly improve the differentiation function of jejunal stem cells of suckling piglets; (7) Early fructooligosaccharide intervention can significantly improve the differentiation function of ileal stem cells of suckling piglets. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 Figure showing the effect of early fructooligosaccharide intervention on the growth performance of suckling piglets;

[0022] Figure 2 Figure showing the effect of early fructooligosaccharide intervention on the morphology of jejunal tissue in suckling piglets;

[0023] Figure 3 Figure showing the effect of early fructooligosaccharide intervention on the morphology of ileum tissue in suckling piglets;

[0024] Figure 4 Figure showing the effect of early fructooligosaccharide intervention on disaccharidase activity in the small intestine of suckling piglets;

[0025] Figure 5 Figure showing the effect of early fructooligosaccharide intervention on the digestive and absorptive functions of the small intestine in suckling piglets;

[0026] Figure 6 Figure showing the effect of early intervention with fructooligosaccharides on intestinal growth factor in suckling piglets. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] Extraction and purification of fructooligosaccharides:

[0030] Dried chicory roots were pulverized and mixed with purified water at 80°C at a ratio of 1:10, then stirred for 2 hours. The extracted slurry was subjected to solid-liquid separation to obtain a crude fructooligosaccharide extract. 2% (w / v) food-grade activated carbon was added to the crude extract, and the mixture was stirred at 70°C for 30 minutes to adsorb pigments and polyphenols, while also adsorbing some proteins. The extract was filtered again to remove the activated carbon. An ultrafiltration membrane with a molecular weight cutoff of approximately 10,000–20,000 Daltons was used to remove large molecules of protein, colloids, starch, and residual plant fiber particles, while allowing small molecules of sugar and salt to pass through, thus performing preliminary purification. The clarified ultrafiltration solution was then passed sequentially through a strong acid cation exchange resin column and a strong base anion exchange resin column to remove most of the cations (K+) from the extract. + Na + Ca 2+ Mg 2+ (etc.) and anions (Cl) - SO4 2- PO4 3- (etc.), significantly reducing ash content and further removing residual pigments and organic acids, improving product purity. The purified solution is concentrated under vacuum conditions (65℃) to a solid content of approximately 70%. The concentrated syrup is then fed into a spray drying tower and instantly dried by a high-temperature airflow to obtain a white or pale yellow fructooligosaccharide powder (inlet air temperature typically 200℃, outlet air temperature 90℃), with a purity ≥95%.

[0031] Example 2

[0032] This animal experiment was conducted at Aizhuren Livestock Co., Ltd. in Luohe, Henan Province. Six litters of three-way crossbred commercial sows of the same breed and similar parity were selected. They were divided into two groups within the same litter, with six sows in each litter serving as the control group (CON) and the other six as the experimental group (FOS). The experimental group was administered 5 mL of fructooligosaccharide solution daily, with an effective fructooligosaccharide intake of 3 g / day / sow. The control group was administered the same amount of physiological saline. The administration period was from day 2 to day 21 after birth. Sows were weighed on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 of the experimental period, and samples were collected at slaughter on days 7, 14, and 21.

[0033] See results Figures 1-6 .

[0034] 1. Effects of fructooligosaccharides on the growth performance of suckling piglets:

[0035] Depend on Figure 1 It can be seen that early intervention with fructooligosaccharides can significantly increase the body weight of suckling piglets and improve the average daily weight gain of suckling piglets at 1-7 days, 8-14 days and 1-21 days. These results indicate that fructooligosaccharides significantly improve the growth performance of suckling piglets.

[0036] 2. Effects of fructooligosaccharides on the small intestinal organ index of suckling piglets

[0037] The results are shown in Table 1.

[0038] Table 1. Effects of early fructooligosaccharide intervention on the small intestinal index of suckling piglets.

[0039]

[0040] As shown in Table 1, early intervention with fructooligosaccharides can significantly increase the small intestine length and weight of 7-day-old and 14-day-old suckling piglets, and significantly increase the small intestine length of 21-day-old suckling piglets. These results indicate that fructooligosaccharides significantly promote the development of the small intestine in suckling piglets.

[0041] 3. Effects of fructooligosaccharides on the morphology of the small intestine in suckling piglets

[0042] Depend on Figure 2 It can be seen that early intervention with fructooligosaccharides can significantly increase the villus height of the jejunum in 7-day-old, 14-day-old, and 21-day-old suckling piglets, significantly decrease the crypt depth of the jejunum in 14-day-old suckling piglets, and significantly increase the villus-crypt ratio of the jejunum in 7-day-old, 14-day-old, and 21-day-old suckling piglets. These results indicate that fructooligosaccharides significantly improve the morphology of the jejunal tissue in suckling piglets.

[0043] Depend on Figure 3 It can be seen that early intervention with fructooligosaccharides can significantly increase the villus height of the ileum in 7-day-old suckling piglets, significantly decrease the crypt depth of the ileum in 14-day-old suckling piglets, and significantly increase the villus-crypt ratio of the ileum in 7-day-old and 14-day-old suckling piglets. These results indicate that fructooligosaccharides significantly improve the morphology of the ileum tissue in suckling piglets.

[0044] 4. Effects of fructooligosaccharides on the digestive and absorptive functions of the small intestine in suckling piglets.

[0045] Depend on Figure 4 It can be seen that early intervention with fructooligosaccharides can significantly increase the jejunal maltase activity of 7-day-old and 14-day-old suckling piglets, significantly increase the jejunal lactase activity of 7-day-old suckling piglets, and significantly increase the ileal maltase, lactase and sucrase activities of 7-day-old suckling piglets. The above results indicate that fructooligosaccharides significantly increase the disaccharidase activity of the small intestine of suckling piglets.

[0046] Depend on Figure 5 Early intervention with fructooligosaccharides significantly upregulated the expression of glucose transport (GLUT1, SGLT1), protein hydrolysis (APN, APA), and amino acid absorption (PEPT1, EAAC1) mRNAs in the small intestine of suckling piglets. These results indicate that fructooligosaccharide intervention significantly improved the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the small intestine of suckling piglets.

[0047] 5. Effects of fructooligosaccharides on intestinal growth factor in suckling piglets

[0048] Depend on Figure 6 It can be seen that early intervention with fructooligosaccharides can significantly upregulate the expression of intestinal growth factors (IGF1, IGF1R, EGE, GLP2) mRNA in suckling piglets. The above results indicate that intervention with fructooligosaccharides significantly promotes the growth and development of the small intestine in suckling piglets.

Claims

1. Application of fructooligosaccharides in improving the growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets.

2. Application of fructooligosaccharides in the preparation of nutritional regulators to improve the growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets.

3. The application according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The improvement of growth performance in suckling piglets refers to increasing their body weight.

4. The application according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The improvement of intestinal development in suckling piglets is achieved by promoting the expression of small intestinal growth factors IGF1, IGF1R, EGE, and / or GLP2 in suckling piglets.

5. The application according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The improvement of intestinal development in suckling piglets refers to increasing the length and weight of the small intestine.

6. The application according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The improvement of intestinal development in suckling piglets is to increase the villus-crypto ratio in the small intestine of suckling piglets.

7. The application according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The improvement of intestinal development in suckling piglets involves increasing the activity of maltase, lactase, and / or sucrase in the ileum of suckling piglets.

8. The application according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The suckling piglets mentioned are piglets aged 1 to 21 days.

9. The application according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The fructooligosaccharides mentioned herein are used as a nutritional regulator or drug additive in animal feed to improve the growth performance and intestinal development of suckling piglets.

10. An application according to claim 9, characterized in that, The dosage of the oligofructose is 3-10 g / day / head.

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