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Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis
Published on: January 5, 2017
Dietary exopolysaccharides alleviate SARA-induced colonic dysfunction in Hu sheep by modulating microbiota and
Tianle Xu1, Shuangyuan Fan2, Helena Vivian Kollie2
1Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
|July 11, 2026
Summary
Dietary exopolysaccharides (EPS) from lactic acid bacteria can protect ruminants from subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Supplementing feed with EPS improved gut health, reduced inflammation, and enhanced beneficial bacteria in sheep on high-concentrate diets.
Area of Science:
- Ruminant nutrition and gut health
- Microbiome and postbiotics
- Animal physiology and immunology
Background:
- Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) negatively impacts ruminant hindgut health, leading to impaired fermentation, barrier dysfunction, and inflammation.
- Exopolysaccharides (EPS) from lactic acid bacteria are potential postbiotics, but their efficacy against SARA-induced colonic dysfunction is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of dietary EPS supplementation on mitigating colonic dysfunction in Hu sheep experiencing SARA.
- To evaluate the impact of EPS on ruminal pH, hindgut inflammation, oxidative stress, epithelial integrity, and microbial composition.
Main Methods:
- Hu sheep were fed a high-concentrate diet (HCD) or HCD supplemented with 0.1% (LEPS) or 0.2% EPS (HEPS) for 5 weeks.
- Measurements included ruminal pH, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, oxidative stress markers (MDA, T-AOC), inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, etc.), tight junction gene/protein expression, and fecal microbiota analysis.
- Epigenetic modifications (histone acetylation) at inflammatory gene promoters were also assessed.
Main Results:
- HCD induced SARA symptoms, increased LPS, oxidative stress, and inflammation, while downregulating tight junction proteins and causing gut dysbiosis.
- EPS supplementation, especially HEPS, effectively alleviated SARA symptoms, reduced LPS and oxidative stress, and suppressed inflammation.
- HEPS increased beneficial bacteria, improved tight junction protein expression, inhibited NF-κB activation, and induced epigenetic repression of inflammatory genes.
Conclusions:
- Dietary EPS supplementation effectively attenuates the detrimental effects of SARA on colonic integrity and inflammatory status in ruminants.
- Microbial EPS represent a promising postbiotic strategy for maintaining hindgut health in animals fed high-concentrate diets.
Keywords:
ExopolysaccharidesIntestinal barrierIntestinal immune regulationIntestinal microbiotaSubacute ruminal acidosisMore Related Videos
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