Effects of Maternal Pterostilbene Supplementation on Milk Composition and Offspring Gut Antioxidant/Lipid Metabolism

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Liyun Bai1, Jiaqi Dong1, Mingming Cao1

  • 1College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pterostilbene (PTE) supplementation improved breast milk quality and enhanced intestinal barrier function in piglets. This study highlights PTE

Area of Science:

  • Animal Nutrition
  • Gut Microbiome Research
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota are crucial for piglet health.
  • Breast milk composition significantly influences offspring development.
  • Pterostilbene (PTE) is a natural compound with potential health benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of pterostilbene (PTE) on piglet intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity, lipid metabolism, and microbial homeostasis via breast milk.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and metabolic pathways involved.

Main Methods:

  • PTE supplementation in sows and analysis of breast milk (colostrum and mature milk).
  • Assessment of piglet intestinal barrier function, antioxidant status, and lipid metabolism.
  • 16S rDNA sequencing for gut microbiota analysis and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS) for metabolite profiling.
  • Multi-omics data integration to identify correlations between milk, microbiota, and host.

Main Results:

  • PTE enhanced antioxidant status and strengthened intestinal barrier function in piglets.
  • PTE modulated PI3K-AKT and SIRT1-Nrf2/Keap1 pathways, promoting fatty acid β-oxidation.
  • PTE altered colonic microbiota composition, increasing beneficial genera like Faecalibacterium, Mucispirillum, and Ruminococcus.
  • PTE elevated amino acid derivatives (GSH, NAG) and reduced glycerophospholipid metabolites in milk.
  • Strong correlations were found between mature milk microbiota and the piglet colon, implicating glycerophospholipid metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • Pterostilbene (PTE) supplementation improves breast milk quality, positively impacting piglet intestinal homeostasis.
  • PTE enhances antioxidant capacity and intestinal barrier function through specific signaling pathways.
  • PTE modulates the gut microbiota and metabolome, with glycerophospholipid metabolism being a key pathway.

Keywords:
colonic mucosaintestinal barriermetabolomicsmilk microbiotapterostilbenesuckling piglets

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