A study published in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal Food & Function, carried out by the Ordesa R&D Centre at the Barcelona Science Park, and the Animal Nutrition and Welfare Service (SNiBA) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), has shown that supplementation of an infant formula with a synbiotic together with the protein osteopontin promotes an improvement in the maturation of the microbiota and has a positive impact on the expression of genes in the small intestine. This is one of the first studies in the world to evaluate the combination of these two supplements, which had already been shown to have a beneficial effect individually.

The supplementation of an infant formula with a synbiotic, a product that combines a probiotic – where Bifidobacterium longum infantis CECT 7210 is mixed with Lactobacillus rhamnosus NH001 – and a prebiotic – specifically HMO, 2-FL – together with osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional protein found in various tissues of the body, both improve the maturation of the gut microbiota and positively modify gene expression in the digestive system. All this results in better gut health in the early stages of life.

This is the result of a recent study published in the journal Food & Function and carried out jointly by Laboratorios Ordesa and the Animal Nutrition and Welfare Service (SNiBA) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). A total of 96 piglets were allocated to four different feeding groups: with a standard infant formula, with a formula supplemented with the synbiotic, a formula supplemented with osteopontin and another formula supplemented with a combination of the synbiotic and osteopontin.

After a fortnight’s follow-up, during which records were taken of the amount of feed ingested, animal weight and various clinical parameters, blood, digestive contents and intestinal tissue samples were obtained. When analysing the data, positive effects could be seen in all three supplemented groups. “But what is significant is that we saw that in the group that combined the synbiotic and osteopontin, the effects that had been seen individually were enhanced, due to a synergistic effect,” explains Dr Susana María Martín-Orúe, researcher at SNiBA and one of the authors of the study.

A better maturation of the microbiota

One of the effects observed was an increased maturation of the intestinal ecosystem in piglets fed the infant formula supplemented with the combination of the synbiotic and osteopontin.

Significant changes were also observed within the colon, as there was a marked increase in the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which are beneficial for intestinal health. A reduction in ammonia levels, a compound that can be harmful in excess, was also detected, and there was a significant decrease in intraepithelial lymphocyte counts, suggesting an improvement in the overall health of the gut. “These findings indicate a possible link between diet and gut health, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome,” highlights Martín-Orúe.

Changes in gene expression

The supplemented diets also had an impact on gene expression in the small intestine. The combination of prebiotics and probiotics was characterised by increased activity of genes related to gut maturation and nutrient transport, which would have a positive effect on gut function. In addition, a decrease in the activity of genes associated with pathogen response and inflammation was observed, indicating a possible beneficial effect on the maturation of the immune system by modulating the response to harmful agents and inflammation.

Meanwhile, the osteopontin, another component of the diet, stimulated the activity of genes related to digestive function. “These findings highlight the importance of diet in the regulation of intestinal function and suggest that certain components may have beneficial effects on digestive health, as is the case of osteopontin, which is a component that we have recently added to our infant formulas at Laboratorios Ordesa”, states Dr José Antonio Moreno, another of the publication’s authors, who carried out part of the research at the Ordesa R&D Centre at the Barcelona Science Park.

Furthermore, analysis of the relationship between the gut bacterial population and other variables in the study, such as short-chain fatty acid concentration, histology or the expression of different genes at the gut level, suggests that there is a complex communication between the gut microbiota and the host organism, confirming its key role in maintaining health.

» Reference article: Ferreres-Serafini, L., Martín-Orúe, S. M., Sadurní, M., Jiménez, J., Moreno-Muñoz, J. A., & Castillejos, L. (2024). Supplementing infant milk formula with a multi-strain synbiotic and osteopontin enhances colonic microbial colonization and modifies jejunal gene expression in lactating piglets. Food & Function, 15(12), 6536–6552. DOI: 10.1039/D4FO00489B