Plant-derived squalene supplementation improves growth performance and alleviates acute oxidative stress-induced growth retardation and intestinal damage in piglets.

Piglets are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress, which causes inferior growth performance and intestinal damage. Squalene (SQ), a natural bioactive substance enriched in shark liver oil, shows excellent antioxidant properties and can currently be obtained at a low cost from deodorizer distillate during the production of plant oil. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plant-derived SQ supplementation on the growth performance of piglets and explore the beneficial roles of SQ against oxidative stress and intestinal injury in diquat-challenged piglets.

Glutamine boosts intestinal stem cell-mediated small intestinal epithelial development during early weaning: Involvement of WNT signaling.

Early weaning usually causes small intestine epithelial development abnormality, increasing the risk of gastrointestinal diseases. Glutamine (Gln), enriching in plasma and milk, is widely reported to benefit intestinal health. However, whether Gln affects intestinal stem cell (ISC) activity in response to early weaning is unclear.

Effect of Ornithine α-Ketoglutarate on Intestinal Microbiota and Serum Inflammatory Cytokines in Dextran Sulfate Sodium Induced Colitis.

Ornithine α-ketoglutarate (OKG), a nutritional compound, is an amino acid salt with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects on humans and animals. Ulcerative colitis (UC), as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leads to chronic intestinal inflammatory dysfunction. This study evaluated the optimal dosage of OKG in healthy mice.

Early weaning causes small intestinal atrophy by inhibiting the activity of intestinal stem cells: involvement of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Background: Early weaning and shorter breastfeeding duration are applied by a proportion of young mothers, especially in the social spheres of poverty-stricken areas. Early childhood is a critical period for intestinal development, which is driven by intestinal stem cells (ISCs). However, how early weaning practice affects the function of ISCs to mediate intestinal development remains unclear.

Dietary Alpha-Ketoglutarate Supplementation Improves Bone Growth, Phosphorus Digestion, and Growth Performance in Piglets.

Phosphorus (P) pollution from modern swine production is a major environmental problem. Dietary interventions to promote bone growth can improve the utilization of dietary P, and thereby reduce its emission. Recent in vitro studies have shown that alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) exerts a pro-osteogenic effect on osteoblast cells.

Elevation of Intracellular Alpha-Ketoglutarate Levels Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis by Suppressing the NF-κB Signaling Pathway in a PHD1-Dependent Manner.

Age-related osteoporosis, a high-prevalence disease in the aged population, is generally attributed to the excessive activity of osteoclasts. Most approved drugs treat osteoporosis by inhibition of osteoclasts. Although in vivo studies have shown that alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), an intermediate in the TCA cycle, can ameliorate age-related osteoporosis, the effects of AKG on osteoclastogenesis and the underlying mechanism of its action have not been studied yet.

Ornithine α-Ketoglutarate Alleviates Inflammation Regulating Ileal Mucosa Microbiota and Metabolites in Enterotoxigenic -Infected Pigs.

Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) is one of the main causes of diarrhea in weaned piglets, and ornithine α-ketoglutarate (OKG) as a food supplement has been shown to improve intestinal immune status in animals and humans. However, it remains unknown whether OKG alleviates inflammation through the regulation of gut microbiota and its metabolites on ETEC-infected piglets. This study was conducted to explore the impact of OKG on growth performance, immunity, and ileal mucosa microbiota and its metabolites in piglets infected with ETEC.

Effects of ornithine α-ketoglutarate on growth performance and gut microbiota in a chronic oxidative stress pig model induced by d-galactose.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of ornithine α-ketoglutarate (OKG) on d-galactose (d-gal)-induced chronic oxidative stress in a pig model. A total of 40 castrated young pigs were randomly separated into five groups, including a control group, a model group treated with 5 mg per kg body weight (BW) d-gal, and three d-gal + OKG groups in which the pigs received 0.5%, 1%, and 2% OKG (n = 8).

Effects of dietary alpha-ketoglutarate on bacteria profiles in the faeces of lactating sows and their suckling piglets.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on the faecal bacteria composition of suckling piglets after supplementation of AKG to the diet of lactating sows. After farrowing, the sows were assigned to either a normal lactation diet (control group, = 12) or a diet supplemented with 0.25% AKG (AKG group, = 12) based on body weight (BW) and parity.

Effects of maternal alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation during lactation on the performance of lactating sows and suckling piglets.

The aim of the study was to investigate if dietary alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) supplementation may improve the performance of lactating sows and their suckling piglets. After farrowing, 24 lactating sows (Large White × Landrace) with similar body weight (BW) were assigned to the control and AKG groups based on parity, and their lactation diets were supplemented with 0.00 or 0.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Unfolded Protein Response Pathways Involved in the Health-Promoting Effects of Allicin on the Jejunum.

Intestinal endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) triggered by adverse factors disturbs the normal function of the intestine. Allicin has been reported to promote intestinal health and development. In the present study, we established in vivo (35-day-old weaned piglets, 4-week-old mice) and in vitro (IPEC-J2 cell line) ERS models to explore the possible mechanisms by which allicin may benefit intestinal health.

Alpha-ketoglutarate suppresses the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathway and enhances the PXR-regulated detoxification pathway.

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a critical nutritional factor in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. However, the relative mechanism of AKG has not been well understood. It was recently shown that the interaction between nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated inflammatory pathway and pregnane X receptor (PXR)-regulated detoxification pathway is a check and balance mechanism for keeping the homeostatic state of the intestine, preventing the onset of intestinal inflammation which may lead to cancer.

Administration of alpha-ketoglutarate improves epithelial restitution under stress injury in early-weaning piglets.

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is an important cellular metabolite that participates in energy production and amino acid metabolism. However, the protective effects and mechanism of AKG on mucosal lesions have not been well understood. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary AKG supplementation on epithelial restitution in early-weaning piglets under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction.

AMPK/α-Ketoglutarate Axis Regulates Intestinal Water and Ion Homeostasis in Young Pigs.

Water and ion absorption via sensitive aquaporins (AQPs) and ion channels is of critical importance in intestinal health. However, whether α-ketoglutarate (AKG) could improve intestinal water and ion homeostasis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged piglets and whether the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway is involved remains largely unknown. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary AKG supplementation on the small intestinal water and ion homeostasis through modulating the AMPK pathway in a piglet diarrhea model.

AMPK Regulation of Glucose, Lipid and Protein Metabolism: Mechanisms and Nutritional Significance.

AMP-activated protein kianse (AMPK) is a master sensor of cellular energy levels and a crucial regulator of nutrient metabolism such as the synthesis of fatty acids, glucose and protein as well as their oxidation to CO2 and water . Thus, AMPK signaling has important implications for fat deposition and glucose homeostasis in animals and humans. Much experimental and clinical evidence show that AMPK is a key therapeutic target for the prevention of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, inflammation and cardiac dysfunction.

Effects of Alpha-Ketoglutarate on Glutamine Metabolism in Piglet Enterocytes in Vivo and in Vitro.

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) plays a vital part in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and is a key intermediate in the oxidation of L-glutamine (Gln). The study was to evaluate effects of AKG on Gln metabolism in vivo and in vitro. A total of twenty-one piglets were weaned at 28 days with a mean body weight (BW) of 6.