The Effects of the Combination of Oral Lactoferrin and Iron Injection on Iron Homestasis, Antioxidative Abilities and Cytokines Activities of Suckling Piglets

Effects of Different Iron Supplements on Reproductive Performance and Antioxidant Capacity of Pregnant Sows as Well as Iron Content and Antioxidant Gene Expression in Newborn Piglets

To improve the reproductive performance of sows and the iron nutrition of newborn piglets, we studied the effects of dietary iron on reproductive performance in pregnant sows as well as antioxidant capacity and the visceral iron content of sows and newborn piglets. Forty pregnant sows were divided into four groups, the iron deficiency group (Id group) was fed a basic diet while sows in the treatment groups were fed diets supplemented with 200 mg/kg lactoferrin (LF group), 0.8% heme-iron (Heme-Fe group), or 500 mg/kg iron-glycine complex (Fe-Gly group). The results indicated that (1) different sources of iron had no significant effect on litter size, live litter size, and litter weight of sows; (2) the three additives improved iron nutrition in newborn piglets, with LF and Heme-Fe having better improvement effects; and (3) the addition of different iron sources improved the level of serum antioxidant biochemical indexes of sows and newborn piglets, and it can have an effect on gene level, among which lactoferrin has the best effect. Thus, adding LF, Heme-iron, or Fe-Gly to the diet of sows during the second and third trimester of gestation can improve the antioxidant capacity of the sows. The supplementation of LF in pregnant sow diets can also improve the antioxidant capacity and the iron nutrition of newborn piglets, with better additive effects than in Heme-Fe and Fe-Gly.

Trace metals and animal health: Interplay of the gut microbiota with iron, manganese, zinc, and copper

Metals such as iron, manganese, copper, and zinc are recognized as essential trace elements. These trace metals play critical roles in development, growth, and metabolism, participating in various metabolic processes by acting as cofactors of enzymes or providing structural support to proteins. Deficiency or toxicity of these metals can impact human and animal health, giving rise to a number of metabolic and neurological disorders. Proper breakdown, absorption, and elimination of these trace metals is a tightly regulated process that requires crosstalk between the host and these micronutrients. The gut is a complex system that serves as the interface between these components, but other factors that contribute to this delicate interaction are not well understood. The gut is home to trillions of microorganisms and microbial genes (the gut microbiome) that can regulate the metabolism and transport of micronutrients and contribute to the bioavailability of trace metals through their assimilation from food sources or by competing with the host. Furthermore, deficiency or toxicity of these metals can modulate the gut microenvironment, including microbiota, nutrient availability, stress, and immunity. Thus, understanding the role of the gut microbiota in the metabolism of manganese, iron, copper, and zinc, as well as in heavy metal deficiencies and toxicities, and vice versa, may provide insight into developing improved or alternative therapeutic strategies to address emerging health concerns. This review describes the current understanding of how the gut microbiome and trace metals interact and affect host health, particularly in pigs.

A prospective on multiple biological activities of lactoferrin contributing to piglet welfare

Piglets, especially weaning piglets, show a lower level of immunity and higher morbidity and mortality, owing to their rapid growth, physiological immaturity, and gradual reduction of maternal antibodies, which seriously affects their growth and thus, value. It is important that piglets adapt to nutrient digestion and absorption and develop sound intestinal function and colonization with gut microbiota as soon as possible during their early life stage. Lactoferrin is a natural glycoprotein polypeptide that is part of the transferrin family. It is widely found in mucosal secretions such as saliva and tears, and most highly in milk and colostrum. As a multifunctional bioactive protein and a recommended food additive, lactoferrin is a potential alternative therapy to antibiotics and health promoting additive for piglet nutrition and development. It is expected that lactoferrin, as a natural food additive, could play an important role in maintaining pig health and development. This review examines the following known beneficial effects of lactoferrin: improves the digestion and capacity for absorption in the intestinal tract; promotes the absorption of iron and reduces the incidence of iron deficiency anemia; regulates intestinal function and helps to balance the microbial biota; and enhances the resistance to disease of the piglets via modulating and enhancing the immune system.

Oxidative stress mitigation by antioxidants - An overview on their chemistry and influences on health status

The present review paper focuses on the chemistry of oxidative stress mitigation by antioxidants. Oxidative stress is understood as a lack of balance between the pro-oxidant and the antioxidant species. Reactive oxygen species in limited amounts are necessary for cell homeostasis and redox signaling. Excessive reactive oxygenated/nitrogenated species production, which counteracts the organism's defense systems, is known as oxidative stress. Sustained attack of endogenous and exogenous ROS results in conformational and oxidative alterations in key biomolecules. Chronic oxidative stress is associated with oxidative modifications occurring in key biomolecules: lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, carbonyl (aldehyde/ketone) adduct formation, nitration, sulfoxidation, DNA impairment such strand breaks or nucleobase oxidation. Oxidative stress is tightly linked to the development of cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, eye disease. The deleterious action of reactive oxygenated species and their role in the onset and progression of pathologies are discussed. The results of oxidative attack become themselves sources of oxidative stress, becoming part of a vicious cycle that amplifies oxidative impairment. The term antioxidant refers to a compound that is able to impede or retard oxidation, acting at a lower concentration compared to that of the protected substrate. Antioxidant intervention against the radicalic lipid peroxidation can involve different mechanisms. Chain breaking antioxidants are called primary antioxidants, acting by scavenging radical species, converting them into more stable radicals or non-radical species. Secondary antioxidants quench singlet oxygen, decompose peroxides, chelate prooxidative metal ions, inhibit oxidative enzymes. Moreover, four reactivity-based lines of defense have been identified: preventative antioxidants, radical scavengers, repair antioxidants, and those relying on adaptation mechanisms. The specific mechanism of a series of endogenous and exogenous antioxidants in particular aspects of oxidative stress, is detailed. The final section resumes critical conclusions regarding antioxidant supplementation.

Accelerated Osteogenic Differentiation of MC3T3-E1 Cells by Lactoferrin-Conjugated Nanodiamonds through Enhanced Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lactoferrin (LF)-conjugated nanodiamonds (NDs) in vitro on both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation activity as well as osteogenic promotion. The application of LF-NDs resulted in sustained release of LF for up to 7 days. In vitro anti-oxidant analyses performed using Dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA) assay and cell proliferation studies showed that LF (50 μg)-NDs effectively scavenged the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MC3T3-E1 cells (osteoblast-like cells) after H₂O₂ treatment and increased proliferation of cells after H₂O₂ treatment. Treatment of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced MC3T3-E1 cells with LF-NDs suppressed levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In addition, LF-NDs were associated with outstanding enhancement of osteogenic activity of MC3T3-E1 cells due to increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and calcium deposition. Our findings suggest that LF-NDs are an important substrate for alleviating ROS effects and inflammation, as well as promoting osteogenic differentiation of cells.

Adjunctive therapy to treat neonatal sepsis

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a very severe condition that causes significant morbidity and mortality.Areas covered: To overcome the limits of antibiotic therapy and improve NS outcomes, measures chosen among those theoretically able to improve host defenses or positively interfere with deleterious immune responses could be suggested. This paper discusses the mechanisms of action of these measures, whether their efficacy in prophylaxis justifies use in NS therapy and their impact.Expert opinion: NS remains a relevant problem despite the availability of antibiotics effective against the most common agents and the introduction of effective preventive measures such as group B Streptococcus prenatal screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. This explains why attempts to introduce new prophylactic and therapeutic measures have been made. Unfortunately, none of the measures suggested and tested to date can be considered a definitive advance. It is highly likely that in the future, new measures will be proposed according to the increase in the knowledge of the characteristics of immune system function in preterm infants and the methods to modulate unproper immune responses.