Early-Life Supplementation Enhances Gastrointestinal Immunity and Microbiota in Young Rats.

ABSTRACT: Immunonutrition, which focuses on specific nutrients in breast milk and post-weaning diets, plays a crucial role in supporting infants' immune system development. This study explored the impact of maternal supplementation with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and a combination of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharide (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharide (lcFOS) from pregnancy through lactation, extending into the early childhood of the offspring. The synbiotic supplementation's effects were examined at both mucosal and systemic levels. While the supplementation did not influence their overall growth, water intake, or food consumption, a trophic effect was observed in the small intestine, enhancing its weight, length, width, and microscopic structures. A gene expression analysis in

SUBMITTER: Saez-Fuertes L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11241808 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature