Kiwifruit (), compared with cellulose and psyllium, influences the histology and mucus layer of the gastrointestinal tract in the growing pig

• Published in: Food & function Vol. 12; no. 17; pp. 87 - 816
• Main Authors: Montoya, Carlos A, Henare, Sharon J, O'Donoghue, Erin M, Rosendale, Douglas, Edwards, Patrick, Moughan, Paul J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 07.09.2021
• Subjects: Actinidia - metabolism; Actinidia deliciosa; Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; Cellulose; Cellulose - metabolism; Cellulose fibers; Diet; Dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - metabolism; Dietary intake; Digestibility; Digestion; Duodenum; Fermented food; Fibers; Food intake; Fruit - metabolism; Gastrointestinal system; Gastrointestinal tract; Gastrointestinal Tract - growth & development; Gastrointestinal Tract - metabolism; Goblet cells; Histology; Ileum; Intestine; Kiwifruit; Large intestine; Male; Mucosa; Mucus; Mucus - metabolism; Nutrient deficiency; Organic matter; Psyllium - metabolism; Swine; Swine - growth & development; Swine - metabolism; Thickness; Villus
• ISSN: 2042-6496; 2042-650X
• DOI: 10.1039/d0fo02920c

Kiwifruit (KF) fiber, a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers, elicits mucosal changes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This study aimed to define the nature of these changes in mucosal features throughout the GIT of the growing pig in response to semi-synthetic iso-fiber diets containing cellulose (CEL, low GIT luminal functionality) as the sole fiber source (4.5%), or diets where half of the CEL was replaced by either PSY fiber (PSY husk, high GIT luminal functionality) or KF fiber (consumed as intact fruit). Entire male growing pigs ( n = 24, 21 kg bodyweight) received the three diets ( n = 8) for 42 d. GIT tissues, digesta, and feces were sampled. The partial replacement of CEL increased ( P ≤ 0.05) the ileal (KF 22% and PSY 33%) and colonic (PSY 86%) mucus layer thickness, whereas it decreased the rectal crypt depth (KF −26%), and small intestinal (duodenum to ileum) villus length (PSY −17%). The number of duodenal goblet cells was 77% higher ( P ≤ 0.05) for KF than CEL. Pigs fed the KF-containing diet had greater ( P ≤ 0.05) apparent ileal organic matter digestibility and apparent total tract organic matter digestibility compared with CEL, but the lowest amount of fermented organic matter in the large intestine. In conclusion, partial substitution of CEL with PSY or KF at a constant, practically-relevant dietary fiber intake, affected several measures of GIT functionality with effects being specific to the added fiber. The histology and mucus layer of the upper and lower gut of the pig model were changed when cellulose was partially substituted by psyllium and kiwifruit at a practically relevant dietary intake for humans.