Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2026
Transdermal Measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Mechanically Ventilated Piglets
Published on: September 13, 2022
Fermentable fiber reduces recovery time and improves intestinal function in piglets following Salmonella typhimurium
Nancy J Correa-Matos1, Sharon M Donovan, Richard E Isaacson
1Division of Nutritional Sciences, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Insights
Fermentable fibers like soy polysaccharides (SPS) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in infant formula prevented diarrhea and maintained intestinal function in neonates challenged with Salmonella typhimurium. These fibers offer a promising strategy for infant gut health.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Microbiology
Background:
- Diarrhea is a significant cause of infant illness and death.
- Fiber in infant formula aids recovery from infections in older infants, but its effect on neonates is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if fermentable fiber in infant formula reduces infection symptoms and improves intestinal health in neonates.
- To test the hypothesis that fermentable fiber enhances intestinal structure and function in neonates following pathogenic infection.
Main Methods:
- Piglets (2 days old) were fed formula with methylcellulose (MCEL), soy polysaccharides (SPS), or fructooligosaccharides (FOS) for 14 days.
- On day 7, piglets were infected with Salmonella typhimurium or kept as non-infected controls.
- Intestinal function, including lactase activity, mucosal barrier function, and ion transport, was assessed post-infection.
Main Results:
- SPS and FOS prevented diarrhea caused by Salmonella typhimurium, unlike control and MCEL groups.
- Fermentable fibers (SPS, FOS) maintained ileal lactase activity and glutamine transport post-infection.
- Ileal mucosal barrier function was impaired by infection in controls but preserved by SPS and FOS.
Conclusions:
- Fermentable fibers (SPS, FOS) enhance intestinal function and reduce the severity of Salmonella typhimurium infection symptoms in neonates.
- These findings suggest fermentable fiber is a potential strategy to mitigate infant infections.
Abstract:
Diarrhea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. The addition of fiber to infant formulas reduces recovery time following pathogenic infection in infants > 6 mo old, but effects on neonates are unknown. The hypothesis that fermentable fiber reduces infection-associated symptoms and enhances intestinal structure and function in neonates was examined. Piglets (2 d old) were randomly assigned to receive formula alone (control) or formula containing methylcellulose (MCEL), soy polysaccharides (SPS) or fructooligosaccharides (FOS) for 14 d. On d 7, piglets were further randomly assigned to receive an oral gavage of Salmonella typhimurium or serve as noninfected controls. S. typhimurium infection produced diarrhea in controls and MCEL groups, but not in the SPS and FOS groups. Postinfection physical activity was lower (P = 0.0001) in the controls than in all other groups. Ileal lactase activity was reduced (P < 0.05) following infection in the control group but not in the MCEL, SPS and FOS groups. Ileal mucosal barrier function, measured as resistance, was impaired by infection (P < 0.05) in the control and SPS groups, but was unaltered in the jejunum and colon. Total ion transport and basal short-circuit current were higher (P < 0.05) in jejunum than in ileum and colon, irrespective of diet or infection. SPS and FOS increased (P < 0.05) ileal glutamine transport relative to piglets fed MCEL, irrespective of infection. Because fermentable fiber enhances intestinal function and reduces the severity of S. typhimurium infection-associated symptoms, it may be a cost-effective way in which to reduce the severity of pathogenic infection-associated symptoms in infants.
