Dietary supplementation with dihydroartemisinin improves intestinal barrier function in weaned piglets with intrauterine growth retardation by modulating the gut microbiota

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary dihydroartemisinin (DHA) supplementation could improve intestinal barrier function and microbiota composition in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) weaned piglets. Twelve normal birth weight (NBW) piglets and 24 IUGR piglets at 21 d of age were divided into three groups, which were fed a basal diet (NBW-CON and IUCR-CON groups) and an 80 mg/kg DHA diet (IUGR-DHA group). At 49 d of age, eight piglets of each group with similar body weights within groups were slaughtered, and serum and small intestine samples were collected. The results showed that IUGR piglets reduced growth performance, impaired the markers of intestinal permeability, induced intestinal inflammation, decreased intestinal immunity, and disturbed the intestinal microflora. Dietary DHA supplementation increased average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and body weight at 49 d of age in IUGR-weaned piglets (P