This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of α-glycerol monolaurate (α-GML) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum profiles, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota of weaned piglets. A total of 96 healthy 28-d-old (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) weaned piglets with body weight of 8.34 ± 0.05 kg were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups with 6 replicate pens and 8 piglets per pen. The control group was fed a basal diet and the experimental group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 1,000 mg/kg α-GML. The experiment lasted for 28 d. Dietary supplementation with α-GML had no effect on average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or gain to feed ratio in piglets (P > 0.05); however, it reduced (P < 0.05) diarrhea rate of piglets on days 15 to 28. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and gross energy (GE) on day 14, and DM, organic matter, CP, EE, and GE on day 28 increased (P < 0.05) with α-GML supplementation. Moreover, higher (P < 0.05) glutathione peroxidase activity and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration, and lower (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations were observed in piglets supplemented with α-GML compared with the control group on day 14. Compared with the control group, the villus height/crypt depth in the duodenum and villus height in the jejunum and ileum were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the α-GML group. Dietary α-GML supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Firmicutes, while decreasing (P < 0.05) Bacteroidota and Campilobacterota in the cecal contents; significantly increased (P < 0.05) the relative proportion of Lactobacillus and Blautia species, reduced (P < 0.05) Eubacterium_rectale_ATCC_33656, Campylobacter, and uncultured_bacterium_Alloprevotella species. Thus, dietary α-GML supplementation at 1,000 mg/kg reduces diarrhea rate, improves intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant capacity, and immune status, and ameliorates gut microbiota in weaned piglets.
Keywords: antioxidant capacity; gut microbiota; intestinal morphology; nutrient digestibility; weaned piglets; α-glycerol monolaurate.
Glycerol monolaurate (GML) is naturally present in breast milk as well as other natural sources such as coconut oil and is widely used as a food additive. Dietary α-GML is used in animal production due to its safe-guarding health and growth-promoting effects. In the present study, α-GML was evaluated for growth performance, blood parameters, and intestinal health in piglets. Dietary α-GML helped piglets digest dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and gross energy in feed. The blood parameters and intestinal structure of piglets fed the diet containing 1,000 mg/kg α-GML were improved. In addition, α-GML supplementation promoted the colonization of beneficial bacteria and inhibited the number of harmful bacteria. In the current study, dietary α-GML was responsible for improving the health status, intestinal morphology, and digestion and absorption of nutrients of weaned piglets with less diarrhea.
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