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Optimal ratio of laurate and butyrate from glyceride forms improves nutrient digestibility and health in weaned piglets |
Shuang Dong1 
, Yi Chen1
, Nan Zhang1
, Jihua Wang2
, Yu Cao2
, Yongxi Ma1,*
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1State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
2CALID BIOTECH (WUHAN) CO., LTD, Wuhan, China |
Correspondence:
Yongxi Ma, Tel: +86-10-6273-3588, Email: mayongxi2005@163.com
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Received: 5 September 2025 • Revised: 27 October 2025 • Accepted: 13 November 2025 |
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| Abstract |
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying blend ratios of dietary α-glycerol monolaurate (GML) and glyceryl tributyrate (TB) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in weaned piglets.
Methods
A total of 120 weaned piglets (Duroc × [ Landrace × Yorkshire], initial body weight 6.87 ± 0.15 kg, 28 days old) were assigned randomly to three treatments with five replicate pens per treatment for the 28-day experiment. The treatments consisted of a basal diet supplemented with 0.1% GML/TB blend at the following ratios:1) HM (higher GML; GML/TB=7:3); 2) BR (balanced ratio; GML/TB=1:1); 3) LM (lower GML; GML/TB=3:7).
Results
Dietary BR supplementation increased apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein and gross energy (GE, p<0.05) on day 14, and ATTD of GE on day 28 compared with other groups. Compared with LM group, piglets fed BR diet had higher (p<0.05) concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and lower (p<0.05) level of diamine oxidase on day 14, had higher (p<0.05) concentration of IL-1β and lower (p<0.05) concentration of IL-6 on day 28 in serum. Dietary BR supplementation increased (p<0.05) the ALT content, decreased (p<0.05) the IL-6 content on day 14 and AST and IL-1β contents on day 28, decreased (p<0.05) the IL-10 contents on day 28 in serum compared with HM group. Furthermore, dietary BR supplementation increased (p<0.05) the activities of glutathione peroxidase in duodenum, total antioxidant capacity in jejunum, and catalase in ileum. Compared with LM group, piglets fed another two diets had lower (p<0.05) level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dietary supplementation with a 0.1% GML/TB blend (1:1) improves nutrient digestibility, enhances intestinal antioxidant capacity, modulates inflammatory responses, and supports overall health in weaned piglets.
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| Keywords:
medium and short-chain fatty acids; weaned piglets; growth performance; nutrient digestibility; immunological capacity; antioxidant capacity |
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