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S. N. Heinritz, E. Weiss, M. Eklund, T. Aumiller, S. Messner, C. M. E. Heyer, S. Bischoff, R. Mosenthin, 0952 Intestinal microbiota, microbial metabolites and carcass traits are changed in a pig model fed a high-fat/low-fiber or a low-fat/high-fiber diet, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 94, Issue suppl_5, October 2016, Page 458, https://doi.org/10.2527/jam2016-0952
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Abstract
For gastrointestinal functions and health, the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites appear to be an important factor. However, further elaboration of potential relationships between nutrition, gut microbiota, and host's health by means of a suitable animal model are required. The present study was designed to examine the impact of diets high in fat or fiber content, thus rather representing an “unhealthy” or “beneficial” diet, on gut microbiota composition, microbial activity, and carcass traits by using the pig as a model for humans. Eight pigs (initial BW 28 ± 2 kg) were allotted to 2 treatments, either fed a low fat/high fiber (LF), or a high fat/low fiber (HF) diet for 7 wk. Then, pigs were slaughtered to determine carcass and intestinal weights, as well as backfat thickness. Digesta samples of cecum and colon were taken to measure short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration and gene copy numbers of total eubacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Enterobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium spp., and Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyromonas (Bacteroides group) by use of real-time qPCR. Body weight at slaughter was 72.5 kg for the HF treatment and 77.1 kg for the LF treatment (P > 0.05). Carcass weight was also similar for both treatments, whereas full stomach and colon as well as liver weights were higher for the LF when compared to the HF treatment (P < 0.05). Gene copy numbers of total bacteria in the cecum digesta were higher in the HF compared to the LF treatment (P < 0.05), yet abundance did not differ in colon digesta. Bifidobacterium spp. occurred in higher numbers in the LF treatment, both in cecum and colon digesta (P < 0.05). Higher numbers in HF than in LF pigs were found for the Bacteroides group (P < 0.05) and Enterobacteriaceae (P < 0.001) in cecum and colon digesta. Total SCFA, acetate and butyrate showed higher colonic concentrations in LF than in HF pigs (P < 0.05), while in cecal digesta of LF only acetate and butyrate concentrations were higher (P < 0.05). Results confirmed the trophic action of dietary fiber on epithelium of digestive organs and revealed that the low-fat/high-fiber diet stimulated beneficial bacteria and SCFA production, especially butyrate. On the other hand, the high-fat/low-fiber diet promoted potential pathogenic bacteria. These findings are comparable to those in humans and are in support of the potential of the pig to serve as model for assessing diet-gut-microbiota interactions.
