The facilitation of gut barrier function by infant formula mimicking breast milk protein in piglets

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants. Simulating breast milk, which maximizes the restoration of composition and proportion in breast milk protein, is the ultimate goal of upgrading powdered infant milk products. Although products upgraded with protein, including lactoferrin and osteopontin, have been sold on the market, their effect on intestinal health is not yet well-defined. This study evaluated the effect of protein-upgraded infant formula on the intestinal barrier of piglets. Seven-day-old piglets were used as a model and fed normal and upgraded powdered milk formula for 28 d. The results showed that the upgraded formula increased villus height in the ileum and duodenum by approximately 15% and promoted the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin by 1.5 to 3 times compared with the normal formula group. Intestinal flora were detected to analyze the mechanism by which the upgraded formula improved intestinal mechanical barrier function. The results showed that the upgraded formula promoted the development of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium by 1.5 to 2 times compared with the normal formula. Overall, this study demonstrated that an infant formula mimicking breast milk protein promoted intestinal development effectively and established good intestinal microbiota, which provides a robust scientific foundation for the precise and informed formulation of infant formulas to better meet their nutritional and health requirements.