Modulating Effects of Grape Pomace on the Intestinal Antioxidative and Inflammatory Status in Fattening Pigs

Polyphenol-rich plant products are widely used as feed additives for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this research is to test the hypothesis that feeding grape pomace (GP) to fattening pigs modulates the intestinal immune and antioxidant response, promo...

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Main Authors: Loredana Horodincu, Andrei Claudiu Proca, Bogdan Gabriel Șlencu, Adriana Trifan, Geta Pavel, Gheorghe Solcan, Carmen Solcan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/7/740
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author Loredana Horodincu
Andrei Claudiu Proca
Bogdan Gabriel Șlencu
Adriana Trifan
Geta Pavel
Gheorghe Solcan
Carmen Solcan
author_facet Loredana Horodincu
Andrei Claudiu Proca
Bogdan Gabriel Șlencu
Adriana Trifan
Geta Pavel
Gheorghe Solcan
Carmen Solcan
author_sort Loredana Horodincu
collection DOAJ
description Polyphenol-rich plant products are widely used as feed additives for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this research is to test the hypothesis that feeding grape pomace (GP) to fattening pigs modulates the intestinal immune and antioxidant response, promotes the morphostructure of the small intestine, and improves growth performance. Fifty Piétrain fattening pigs were randomly divided into five groups, each consisting of 10 pigs. The groups were fed a basal diet with no supplementation (control) or a diet supplemented with 1 gGP/kg (E1), 5 gGP/kg (E2), 10 gGP/kg (E3), or 15 gGP/kg (E4). The doses were selected based on preliminary tests. The pigs were slaughtered after 90 days, and their duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and caecum were sampled. We recommend a dose of 10 gGP/kg because it leads to many beneficial effects, including a significantly increased villous height, intestinal crypt depth, and V/C ratio in the duodenum and jejunum (<i>p</i> < 0.05). It also decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-1β in the ileum and caecum, TNF-α in multiple intestinal segments, and MHC-II in the duodenum, jejunum, and caecum. Additionally, antioxidant activity was promoted through the increased immunohistochemical expression of Nrf2 and reduced NF-kB p65 expression. Growth performance also improved, with significantly higher ADG (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and ADFI values (<i>p</i> < 0.01) than those in the control group. In conclusion, polyphenol-rich grape pomace can be used as a supplement in fattening pig diets to maintain their health and productive performance.
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spelling doaj-art-11e14ec09d6345b18c5b1e05f112bba22025-08-20T03:06:28ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-03-0115774010.3390/agriculture15070740Modulating Effects of Grape Pomace on the Intestinal Antioxidative and Inflammatory Status in Fattening PigsLoredana Horodincu0Andrei Claudiu Proca1Bogdan Gabriel Șlencu2Adriana Trifan3Geta Pavel4Gheorghe Solcan5Carmen Solcan6Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment Pharmaceutical Sciences I, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment Pharmaceutical Sciences II, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, RomaniaPolyphenol-rich plant products are widely used as feed additives for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this research is to test the hypothesis that feeding grape pomace (GP) to fattening pigs modulates the intestinal immune and antioxidant response, promotes the morphostructure of the small intestine, and improves growth performance. Fifty Piétrain fattening pigs were randomly divided into five groups, each consisting of 10 pigs. The groups were fed a basal diet with no supplementation (control) or a diet supplemented with 1 gGP/kg (E1), 5 gGP/kg (E2), 10 gGP/kg (E3), or 15 gGP/kg (E4). The doses were selected based on preliminary tests. The pigs were slaughtered after 90 days, and their duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and caecum were sampled. We recommend a dose of 10 gGP/kg because it leads to many beneficial effects, including a significantly increased villous height, intestinal crypt depth, and V/C ratio in the duodenum and jejunum (<i>p</i> < 0.05). It also decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-1β in the ileum and caecum, TNF-α in multiple intestinal segments, and MHC-II in the duodenum, jejunum, and caecum. Additionally, antioxidant activity was promoted through the increased immunohistochemical expression of Nrf2 and reduced NF-kB p65 expression. Growth performance also improved, with significantly higher ADG (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and ADFI values (<i>p</i> < 0.01) than those in the control group. In conclusion, polyphenol-rich grape pomace can be used as a supplement in fattening pig diets to maintain their health and productive performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/7/740grape pomacepolyphenolspigsinflammatory markersintestine immunohistochemistry
spellingShingle Loredana Horodincu
Andrei Claudiu Proca
Bogdan Gabriel Șlencu
Adriana Trifan
Geta Pavel
Gheorghe Solcan
Carmen Solcan
Modulating Effects of Grape Pomace on the Intestinal Antioxidative and Inflammatory Status in Fattening Pigs
Agriculture
grape pomace
polyphenols
pigs
inflammatory markers
intestine immunohistochemistry
title Modulating Effects of Grape Pomace on the Intestinal Antioxidative and Inflammatory Status in Fattening Pigs
title_full Modulating Effects of Grape Pomace on the Intestinal Antioxidative and Inflammatory Status in Fattening Pigs
title_fullStr Modulating Effects of Grape Pomace on the Intestinal Antioxidative and Inflammatory Status in Fattening Pigs
title_full_unstemmed Modulating Effects of Grape Pomace on the Intestinal Antioxidative and Inflammatory Status in Fattening Pigs
title_short Modulating Effects of Grape Pomace on the Intestinal Antioxidative and Inflammatory Status in Fattening Pigs
title_sort modulating effects of grape pomace on the intestinal antioxidative and inflammatory status in fattening pigs
topic grape pomace
polyphenols
pigs
inflammatory markers
intestine immunohistochemistry
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/7/740
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