Effects of Lactic Acid and Glyceryl Lactate on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Health of Piglets

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lactic acid and glyceryl lactate on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health in piglets. This study included 240 castrated male piglets (initial body weight: 7.50 ± 0.54 kg) assigned to four groups: CON (basal diet), LA (bas...

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Main Authors: Shuaiju Guo, Huiling Chu, Bangwang Peng, Junlong Niu, Xiaopeng Yang, Yongpeng Guo, Zhixiang Wang, Wei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Antioxidants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/4/391
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author Shuaiju Guo
Huiling Chu
Bangwang Peng
Junlong Niu
Xiaopeng Yang
Yongpeng Guo
Zhixiang Wang
Wei Zhang
author_facet Shuaiju Guo
Huiling Chu
Bangwang Peng
Junlong Niu
Xiaopeng Yang
Yongpeng Guo
Zhixiang Wang
Wei Zhang
author_sort Shuaiju Guo
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lactic acid and glyceryl lactate on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health in piglets. This study included 240 castrated male piglets (initial body weight: 7.50 ± 0.54 kg) assigned to four groups: CON (basal diet), LA (basal diet + 0.5% lactic acid), GL (basal diet + 0.5% glyceryl lactate), and LG (basal diet + 0.5% lactic acid + 0.5% glyceryl lactate). Each group had six replicates of 10 piglets. The trial lasted 28 days. Compared with the control group, the GL and LG groups showed enhanced growth performance and reduced diarrhea rate in piglets. The LA and LG groups showed decreased intestinal chyme pH and increased digestive enzyme activities. Moreover, the GL and LG groups displayed elevated jejunal mRNA levels of the tight junction protein <i>occludin</i> and mucin <i>MUC2</i>, enhanced expression levels of <i>Nrf2</i> signaling pathway genes, increased activities of the antioxidant enzymes GPX and CAT, and reduced MDA content. Acidifier supplementation also modulated cecal bacterial abundance and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content. Genera such as <i>Faecalibaculum</i>, <i>Nocardiopsis</i>, <i>Collinsella</i>, <i>CAG269</i>, <i>Allobaculum</i>, and <i>Enterococcus</i> were affected. In conclusion, glyceryl lactate and its combination with lactic acid improved piglet growth performance by enhancing intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity, microbial community structure, and SCFA production.
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spelling doaj-art-2bbd450cb87643c3a15696b02c8be9f52025-08-20T03:14:24ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-03-0114439110.3390/antiox14040391Effects of Lactic Acid and Glyceryl Lactate on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Health of PigletsShuaiju Guo0Huiling Chu1Bangwang Peng2Junlong Niu3Xiaopeng Yang4Yongpeng Guo5Zhixiang Wang6Wei Zhang7College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Food and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450000, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lactic acid and glyceryl lactate on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health in piglets. This study included 240 castrated male piglets (initial body weight: 7.50 ± 0.54 kg) assigned to four groups: CON (basal diet), LA (basal diet + 0.5% lactic acid), GL (basal diet + 0.5% glyceryl lactate), and LG (basal diet + 0.5% lactic acid + 0.5% glyceryl lactate). Each group had six replicates of 10 piglets. The trial lasted 28 days. Compared with the control group, the GL and LG groups showed enhanced growth performance and reduced diarrhea rate in piglets. The LA and LG groups showed decreased intestinal chyme pH and increased digestive enzyme activities. Moreover, the GL and LG groups displayed elevated jejunal mRNA levels of the tight junction protein <i>occludin</i> and mucin <i>MUC2</i>, enhanced expression levels of <i>Nrf2</i> signaling pathway genes, increased activities of the antioxidant enzymes GPX and CAT, and reduced MDA content. Acidifier supplementation also modulated cecal bacterial abundance and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content. Genera such as <i>Faecalibaculum</i>, <i>Nocardiopsis</i>, <i>Collinsella</i>, <i>CAG269</i>, <i>Allobaculum</i>, and <i>Enterococcus</i> were affected. In conclusion, glyceryl lactate and its combination with lactic acid improved piglet growth performance by enhancing intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity, microbial community structure, and SCFA production.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/4/391lactic acidglyceryl lactategrowth performanceantioxidant capacitySCFAsintestinal health
spellingShingle Shuaiju Guo
Huiling Chu
Bangwang Peng
Junlong Niu
Xiaopeng Yang
Yongpeng Guo
Zhixiang Wang
Wei Zhang
Effects of Lactic Acid and Glyceryl Lactate on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Health of Piglets
Antioxidants
lactic acid
glyceryl lactate
growth performance
antioxidant capacity
SCFAs
intestinal health
title Effects of Lactic Acid and Glyceryl Lactate on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Health of Piglets
title_full Effects of Lactic Acid and Glyceryl Lactate on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Health of Piglets
title_fullStr Effects of Lactic Acid and Glyceryl Lactate on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Health of Piglets
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Lactic Acid and Glyceryl Lactate on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Health of Piglets
title_short Effects of Lactic Acid and Glyceryl Lactate on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Health of Piglets
title_sort effects of lactic acid and glyceryl lactate on growth performance antioxidant capacity and intestinal health of piglets
topic lactic acid
glyceryl lactate
growth performance
antioxidant capacity
SCFAs
intestinal health
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/4/391
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