Evaluation of a plant-based infant formula containing almonds and buckwheat on gut microbiota composition, intestine mor-phology, metabolic and immune markers in a neonatal piglet model

Authors: Gurung, Manoj; ROSA, FERNANDA - Texas Tech University; YELVINGTON, BROOKE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); TERRY, NATHAN - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); Read, Quentin; PICCOLO, BRIAN - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); MOODY, BECKY - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); TRIPP, PATRICIA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); PITTMAN, HOY - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); FAY, BOBBY - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); ROSS, TAYLOR - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); SIKES, JAMES - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); FLOWERS, JESSICA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); FOX, RENEE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); YOSEPH, FABIANA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); Yeruva, Laxmi; LEROITH, TANYA - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); TALATALA, RACHELANNE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2023
Publication Date: 1/12/2023
Citation: Gurung, M., Rosa, F., Yelvington, B., Terry, N., Read, Q.D., Piccolo, B., Moody, B., Tripp, P., Pittman, H., Fay, B., Ross, T., Sikes, J., Flowers, J., Fox, R., Yoseph, F., Yeruva, V., Leroith, T., Talatala, R. 2023. Evaluation of a plant-based infant formula containing almonds and buckwheat on gut microbiota composition, intestine mor-phology, metabolic and immune markers in a neonatal piglet model. Nutrients. 15(2):383. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020383.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020383

Interpretive Summary: Breastfeeding is the gold-standard source of nutrients to infants with proven health benefits during early stages of development. However, due to several factors, infants receive formula diets in their early life when they are not exclusively breastfed. In fact, majority of the infants in North America received infant formula diets by 2 months of age. Although, dairy-based milk formulas are the most used alternatives to human milk, plant-based formulas can be a healthy alternative to infants and might be a dietary source to avoid cow-milk and soy-protein allergic reactions. Therefore, in this study, we determined the effects of a plant-based formula containing almond and buckwheat flour as the main ingredients in the gut microbiota composition (gut mileu), systemic immune response, metabolic and morphological changes in the intestine using a neonatal piglet model. The present study demonstrated that a plant-based formula with buckwheat and almonds as the primary source of protein can provide similar gut microbiota, metabolic and immune outcomes compared to a dairy-based infant formula.

Technical Abstract: A controlled-neonatal piglet trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of a plant-based infant formula containing buckwheat and almonds as the main source of protein compared to a com-mercially available dairy-based formula on the gut health parameters. 2 day old piglets were fed either a plant-based or a dairy-based formula until day 21. Gut microbiome, cytokines, growth and metabolism related outcomes and intestinal morphology were evaluated to determine the safety of the plant-based infant formula. This study reported that plant-based fed piglets had similar intestinal microbiota composition relative to the dairy-based fed group. However, dif-ferential abundance of specific microbiota species was detected within each diet group in the small and large intestinal regions and fecal samples. Gut morphology was similar between the plant and the dairy-based formula fed piglets. Circulatory cytokines, magnesium, Triiodothyro-nine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Vitamin D, Vitamin K and IgE levels were similar among all piglets independent of dietary group. Overall, the present study demonstrated that a plant-based formula with buckwheat and almonds as the primary source of protein can provide similar gut microbiota and health outcomes compared to a dairy-based in-fant formula.