Glucose oxidase (GOD) is a natural enzyme with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties but its effects on sows remain insufficient. This study investigated the effects of dietary GOD supplementation during gestation on inflammatory response, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and gut microbiota of farrowing sows. Twenty-four primiparous sows were randomly assigned to two groups and fed a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with GOD (300 mg/kg diet) from gestation day 30 to farrowing. GOD supplementation significantly increased triglyceride, superoxide dismutase, and immunoglobulin M levels (p < 0. 05), and significantly decreased alanine aminotransferase and interleukin-6 levels in serum (p < 0. 05) ; significantly reduced placental interleukin-1β, malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations and NF-κB gene expression (p < 0. 05), and elevated glutathione peroxidase activity and relative mRNA expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, GPX1 and SOD2 (p < 0. 05). Moreover, GOD supplementation altered the fecal microbial community structure (p < 0. 05), significantly reducing Clostridium, dgaA-11gutgroup, Bacteroides, and PrevotellaceaeNK3B31group abundance (p < 0. 05), while enriching Lachnospira, unclassifiedfErysipelotrichiaceae, and Anaerostipes (p < 0. 05). Collectively, 300 mg/kg glucose oxidase supplementation during mid-to-late gestation improved the health status of farrowing sows by improving nutrient utilization, immune function and antioxidant capacity, and altering fecal microbial structure and relative abundances.
Zhang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.