Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotics supplementation in sows and piglets' diet on intestinal morphology, and intestinal barrier function in weaned pigs in an intensive pig production system

This study evaluates the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotics (SCFP) supplementation on diarrhea incidence, small intestinal morphology, and expression of tight junction genes in piglets. The study compared three groups: a control group (CON), which received a standard basal diet; a standard basal control diet containing 1.0 kg/mT of Beta-glucan 50 % (BG); and a standard basal control diet containing 2.0 kg/ mT of SCFP (Diamond V XPC). The experimental design involved feeding the diets to the sows from the day when they were inseminated until their piglets were weaned and to piglets from birth to weaning. Diarrhea incidence was monitored, intestinal morphology was assessed, and gene expression of tight junction proteins (Claudin-1, Claudin-2, Occludin, and ZO-1) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta) was analyzed using qPCR. Results revealed that SCFP supplementation significantly reduced diarrhea incidence and upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins Claudin-1 (1.61-fold) and Occludin (1.90-fold) compared to CON. These improvements were not associated with changes in intestinal morphology. BG supplementation showed intermediate effects on tight junction gene expression but did not differ significantly from CON. These findings highlight the potential of SCFP as a dietary supplement to enhance gastrointestinal health in piglets by strengthening the intestinal epithelial barrier and reducing pathogen translocation. The study underscores the efficacy of SCFP in improving gut health without altering intestinal structure, offering an effective approach to manage pre-weaning diarrhea. Future studies are needed to explore the long-term impact of SCFP on growth performance and immunity.