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Weaning is a critical phase for piglets, often marked by stress, feed deprivation, and gut disturbances, which can lead to inflammation, diarrhea, and impaired growth. Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) has anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial for weaned piglets with underdeveloped immune systems. The study explores the impact of IPA supplementation on growth performance, oxidative stress, and inflammation response in weaned piglets.
Methods and results: Two experiments were carried out to test the efficacy of IPA to reduce the probability of post-weaning diarrhoea. In Experiment 1, 90 weaned piglets were divided into six groups (5 replicates per group, 3 pigs per replicate), with each group receiving a basal diet with varying amounts of IPA (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg) for 42 d. Piglets fed the diets with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of IPA exhibited reduced feed conversion ratios compared to the control piglets.
Notably, 50 and 100 mg/kg IPA treatments significantly reduced diarrhea incidence and serum interleukin (IL)-6 content. Conversely, a high dosage of 600 mg/kg IPA led to increased serum contents of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6. Optimal antioxidant benefits were observed at 100 mg/kg IPA supplementation, which significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels while enhancing serum total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase activity on d 14.
Experiment 2 investigated the effects of IPA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in weaned piglets. A total of 32 weaned piglets allocated into 4 groups, with 8 replicates per group and 1 piglet per replicate: a control group, a LPS challenge group, a LPS challenge group supplemented with 100 mg/kg IPA, and a group supplemented with 100 mg/kg IPA alone.
Upon administration of LPS or saline injection, the results indicated that dietary IPA supplementation in challenged piglets enhanced villus height: crypt depth, modulated IL-8 and IL-22 mRNA relative expression, and increased the tight junction protein claudin-1 mRNA relative expression in the intestinal mucosa.
Conclusion: It is concluded that incorporating IPA into the diet of weaned piglets can effectively improve their health and development.
Ming D, Xu X, Jiang X, Li Y, Sun W, Xiang J, Huang M, Pi Y, Li X. Indole-3-propionic acid enhances growth performance and reduces diarrhea via modulating redox status and intestinal inflammation in weaned piglets. Anim Nutr. 2024 Sep 26;19:240-247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2024.08.004
