Quercetin Supplementation Improves Intestinal Digestive and Absorptive Functions and Microbiota in Rats Fed...

Area of Science:

• Animal Nutrition
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

• Protein-oxidized soybean meal impairs digestive and absorptive functions in rats.
• Quercetin is a flavonoid with potential health benefits, but its role in mitigating dietary challenges is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the nutritional mechanisms by which quercetin mitigates the adverse effects of protein-oxidized soybean meal on digestive and absorptive functions in rats.
• To analyze the impact of quercetin on gut microbiota and gene expression related to nutrient metabolism.

Main Methods:

• A 2x2 factorial design study involving 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats fed fresh or protein-oxidized soybean meal with or without quercetin supplementation (400 mg/kg) for 28 days.
• Assessment of organ weights, intestinal morphology, enzyme activities, nutrient digestibility, transcriptomics, and cecal microbiomics.

Main Results:

• Protein-oxidized soybean meal reduced organ weights, duodenal villus height, lipase activity, and nutrient digestibility, while altering gut microbiota composition.
• Quercetin supplementation reversed these negative effects, improving intestinal morphology, enzyme activity, nutrient absorption, and promoting beneficial gut bacteria.
• Transcriptomic analysis indicated quercetin upregulated lipid digestion and absorption pathways and basic amino acid transport.

Conclusions:

• Quercetin effectively mitigates the detrimental effects of protein-oxidized soybean meal on rat digestive and absorptive functions.
• Quercetin's benefits are linked to improved gut morphology, enhanced digestive enzyme activity, better nutrient assimilation, and a favorable modulation of the gut microbiome.