A Comparison of Production Performance, Egg Quality, and Cecal Microbiota in Laying Hens Receiving Graded Levels of Vitamin B12

Microbiota-Induced Epigenetic Alterations in Depressive Disorders Are Targets for Nutritional and Probiotic Therapies

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex disorder and a leading cause of disability in 280 million people worldwide. Many environmental factors, such as microbes, drugs, and diet, are involved in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms of depression are complex and include the interaction of genetics with epigenetics and the host immune system. Modifications of the gut microbiome and its metabolites influence stress-related responses and social behavior in patients with depressive disorders by modulating the maturation of immune cells and neurogenesis in the brain mediated by epigenetic modifications. Here, we discuss the potential roles of a leaky gut in the development of depressive disorders via changes in gut microbiota-derived metabolites with epigenetic effects. Next, we will deliberate how altering the gut microbiome composition contributes to the development of depressive disorders via epigenetic alterations. In particular, we focus on how microbiota-derived metabolites such as butyrate as an epigenetic modifier, probiotics, maternal diet, polyphenols, drugs (e.g., antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antibiotics), and fecal microbiota transplantation could positively alleviate depressive-like behaviors by modulating the epigenetic landscape. Finally, we will discuss challenges associated with recent therapeutic approaches for depressive disorders via microbiome-related epigenetic shifts, as well as opportunities to tackle such problems.

Gut microbiota bridges dietary nutrients and host immunity

Dietary nutrients and the gut microbiota are increasingly recognized to cross-regulate and entrain each other, and thus affect host health and immune-mediated diseases. Here, we systematically review the current understanding linking dietary nutrients to gut microbiota-host immune interactions, emphasizing how this axis might influence host immunity in health and diseases. Of relevance, we highlight that the implications of gut microbiota-targeted dietary intervention could be harnessed in orchestrating a spectrum of immune-associated diseases.

Effects of dietary dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.) polysaccharides on the performance and gut microbiota of laying hens

This experiment was designed to evaluate the influences of dietary dandelion polysaccharides (DP) on the performance and cecum microbiota of laying hens. Three hundred laying hens were assigned to five treatment groups: the basal diet group (CK group), three DP groups (basal diets supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 % DP), and the inulin group (IN group, basal diet supplemented with 1.5 % inulin). Increased daily egg weight and a decreased feed conversion rate were observed when the diets were supplemented with inulin or DP. The calcium metabolism rate in the 0.5 % and 1.0 % DP groups was greater than that in the CK group. The DP groups increased the short-chain fatty acid concentration, decreased pH, and enhanced the relative abundances of Parabacteroides, Alloprevotella, and Romboutsia in the cecum. These results showed that DP supplementation in the diets of laying hens can improve their performance, which might be associated with the regulation of the cecal microbiota.

Effects of dietary supplementation of different levels of vitamin B12 on the liver metabolism of laying hens

BACKGROUND

Vitamin B₁₂ plays an important role in lipid, protein, carbohydrate and nucleic acid metabolism. We investigated the effect of supplementing layers' diets with different vitamin B₁₂ levels on liver metabolism using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approach to observe and analyse wide-target metabolomics in the liver.

RESULTS

We assigned hens to three groups, namely blank control group without vitamin B₁₂ diet (BCG), normal control group with 25 μg kg^-1 vitamin B₁₂ (NCG) and vitamin B₁₂ supplement group I with 100 μg kg^-1 vitamin (VBSG I). The VBSG I group layers had higher (P < 0.05) vitamin B₁₂ concentration than those from other groups. The egg yolk vitamin B₁₂ concentration increased (P < 0.01) with the increasing vitamin B₁₂ dietary supplemental level. Between the NCG versus BCG, VBSG I versus BCG, and VBSG I versus NCG groups, 11, 20 and 11 metabolites were significantly changed, respectively. The KEGG pathway of vitamin B₆ metabolism was significantly impacted in the NCG layers than those from BCG; seven and five pathways were significantly impacted in the VBSG I layers compared with those from BCG and NCG, including pyrimidine metabolism, vitamin B₆ metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, etc. CONCLUSION: We concluded that 25 μg kg^-1 vitamin B₁₂ supplementation in corn-soybean meal-based layer diet increased the egg yolk vitamin B₁₂ concentration and impacted the vitamin B₆ metabolic pathway, and 100 μg kg^-1 of it increased the egg yolk and liver vitamin B₁₂ concentrations and impacted vitamin B₆ , lipid, nucleic acid and amino acid metabolic pathways. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.