QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Online Supporting Material Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Loh, G. Articles by Metges, C. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Loh, G. Articles by Metges, C. C.

---

Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

Inulin Alters the Intestinal Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentrations in Growing Pigs Regardless of Their Basal Diet^1–3,

Gunnar Loh^*,4, Markus Eberhard^*,4, Ronald M. Brunner^*, Ulf Hennig^*, Siegfried Kuhla^*, Brigitta Kleessen and Cornelia C. Metges^*,5

^* Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals, Dummerstorf, Germany and Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany

⁵ To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: metges{at}fbn-dummerstorf.de.

Inulin stimulates intestinal bifidobacteria in humans and rodents but its effect in pigs is inconsistent. We assessed the effect of inulin on the intestinal microbiota by fluorescent in situ hybridization in growing pigs (age 9–12 wk). Pigs (n = 64) were assigned to 2 types of basal diets [wheat and barley (WB) or corn and wheat gluten (CG)] with or without 3% inulin (WBI or CGI) for 3 and 6 wk (n = 8/group) to test whether naturally occurring dietary fibers influence the inulin effect. Intestinal organic acids, pH values, and residual inulin were determined. The composition of the microbiota was highly individual. The duration of feeding did not affect any of the variables tested; therefore, data for the 2 periods were pooled. Bifidobacteria were detected in less than half of the pigs. Inulin did not stimulate lactobacilli and bifidobacteria numbers irrespective of the basal diet, although 20–50% of inulin was degraded in the jejunum. The number of pigs with colonic bifidobacteria was higher in those fed diets containing inulin (40 vs. 13%; P < 0.05). Total colonic short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations were lower in both inulin-fed groups due to reduced acetate (P < 0.05). Proportions of colonic butyrate were higher in pigs fed inulin-supplemented diets (P < 0.05). Colonic pH tended to be lower in the WB groups (WB; 6.6 ± 0.6), and was higher due to inulin (CGI, 7.1 ± 0.1; P < 0.05). In conclusion, inulin affected intestinal SCFA and the number of pigs harboring bifidobacteria; this effect was independent of the basal diet.

KEY WORDS: • bifidobacteria • intestinal microbiota • inulin • pig • SCFA

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Yasuda, H. D. Dawson, E. V. Wasmuth, C. A. Roneker, C. Chen, J. F. Urban, R. M. Welch, D. D. Miller, and X. G. Lei Supplemental Dietary Inulin Influences Expression of Iron and Inflammation Related Genes in Young Pigs J. Nutr., November 1, 2009; 139(11): 2018 - 2023. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Seifert and B. Watzl Inulin and Oligofructose: Review of Experimental Data on Immune Modulation J. Nutr., November 1, 2007; 137(11): 2563S - 2567S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Kien, R. Blauwiekel, C. H. Williams, J. Y. Bunn, and R. K. Buddington Lactulose Feeding Lowers Cecal Densities of Clostridia in Piglets JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, May 1, 2007; 31(3): 194 - 198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Yasuda, K. R. Roneker, D. D. Miller, R. M. Welch, and X. G. Lei Supplemental Dietary Inulin Affects the Bioavailability of Iron in Corn and Soybean Meal to Young Pigs J. Nutr., December 1, 2006; 136(12): 3033 - 3038. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]