Methionine Alters the Fecal Microbiota and Enhances the Antioxidant Capacity of Lactating Donkeys

Overview

Journal Animals (Basel)

Date 2025 Mar 13

PMID 40075931

Authors

Fei Huang

Zongjie Ma

Xinyi Du

Changfa Wang

Guiqin Liu

Miaomiao Zhou

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study looked at how methionine (Met) affects on serum biochemical indicators, antioxidant indicators, and the fecal microbiota of lactating donkeys. A total of 18 healthy donkeys at the mid-lactation stage were used in this study. They were given concentrate meals with varying concentrations of Met after being randomly split into three groups: Met group I (M1) received 5 g/d of Met, Met group II (M2) received 15 g/d of Met, and the control group (C) received 0 g/d of Met. The trial lasted for five weeks in total. Fecal microbes, antioxidant markers, and blood biochemical indicators were examined. The findings showed that while the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased ( < 0.05), the addition of Met (15 g/d) significantly enhanced the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and catalase (CAT) activity. Milk samples from the different groups trended towards having significant differences in the levels of the serum biochemical indicators albumin (ALB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (0.05 < < 0.1). A fecal microbiome analysis revealed that the addition of Met (5 g/d) increased the abundance of and , and the addition of 15 g/d of Met increased the abundance of , , and while decreasing the abundance of the . A correlation analysis revealed that and were positively correlated with the T-AOC and CAT activity (M1 group). was significantly negatively correlated with MDA levels and positively correlated with the T-AOC (M2 group). was positively correlated with CAT activity (M2 group). The above results indicated that Met increased donkey antioxidant levels and modulated the abundance of the fecal microbial community. These findings lay the groundwork for boosting the production performance and general health of nursing donkeys.

References

Zhu C, Yang J, Nie X, Wu Q, Wang L, Jiang Z . Influences of Dietary Vitamin E, Selenium-Enriched Yeast, and Soy Isoflavone Supplementation on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Carcass Traits, Meat Quality and Gut Microbiota in Finishing Pigs. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022; 11(8). PMC: 9405041. DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081510. View

Zhou M, Huang F, Du X, Liu G, Wang C . Analysis of the Differentially Expressed Proteins in Donkey Milk in Different Lactation Stages. Foods. 2023; 12(24). PMC: 10742469. DOI: 10.3390/foods12244466. View

Huang F, Du X, Ma Z, Liu G, Wang C, Zhou M . Effects of Methionine on Milk Performance and Milk Constituents of Lactating Donkeys. Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(20). PMC: 11505105. DOI: 10.3390/ani14203027. View

Ma C, Azad M, Tang W, Zhu Q, Wang W, Gao Q . Maternal probiotics supplementation improves immune and antioxidant function in suckling piglets via modifying gut microbiota. J Appl Microbiol. 2022; 133(2):515-528. DOI: 10.1111/jam.15572. View

Xu Q, Li Y, Du W, Zheng N, Wang J, Zhao S . Effect of dietary biochanin A on lactation performance, antioxidant capacity, rumen fermentation and rumen microbiome of dairy goat. Front Microbiol. 2023; 14:1101849. PMC: 9939525. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1101849. View

Liu Y, Azad M, Zhu Q, Yu Z, Kong X . Dietary bile acid supplementation alters plasma biochemical and hormone indicators, intestinal digestive capacity, and microbiota of piglets with normal birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation. Front Microbiol. 2022; 13:1053128. PMC: 9684342. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1053128. View

Zhou M, Liu G, Liu W, Zhu M, Wang C . Cloning, tissue distribution and functional characterization of the donkey (Equus asinus) oligopeptide transporter 2. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2021; 105(6):1165-1172. DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13615. View

Malacarne M, Criscione A, Franceschi P, Bordonaro S, Formaggioni P, Marletta D . New Insights into Chemical and Mineral Composition of Donkey Milk throughout Nine Months of Lactation. Animals (Basel). 2019; 9(12). PMC: 6940851. DOI: 10.3390/ani9121161. View

Toledo M, Stangaferro M, Gennari R, Barletta R, Perez M, Wijma R . Effects of feeding rumen-protected methionine pre- and postpartum in multiparous Holstein cows: Lactation performance and plasma amino acid concentrations. J Dairy Sci. 2021; 104(7):7583-7603. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19021. View

10.

Martini M, Altomonte I, Trico D, Lapenta R, Salari F . Current Knowledge on Functionality and Potential Therapeutic Uses of Donkey Milk. Animals (Basel). 2021; 11(5). PMC: 8152225. DOI: 10.3390/ani11051382. View

11.

Tong M, Li S, Hui F, Meng F, Li L, Shi B . Effects of Dietary Selenium Yeast Supplementation on Lactation Performance, Antioxidant Status, and Immune Responses in Lactating Donkeys. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024; 13(3). PMC: 10967587. DOI: 10.3390/antiox13030275. View

12.

Sun F, Cao Y, Cai C, Li S, Yu C, Yao J . Regulation of Nutritional Metabolism in Transition Dairy Cows: Energy Homeostasis and Health in Response to Post-Ruminal Choline and Methionine. PLoS One. 2016; 11(8):e0160659. PMC: 4976856. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160659. View

13.

Guo Y, Yin G, Hui F, Guo X, Shi B, Zhao Y . Effects of dietary energy level on antioxidant capability, immune function and rectal microbiota in late gestation donkeys. Front Microbiol. 2024; 15:1308171. PMC: 10896733. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1308171. View

14.

Souroullas K, Aspri M, Papademas P . Donkey milk as a supplement in infant formula: Benefits and technological challenges. Food Res Int. 2018; 109:416-425. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.04.051. View

15.

Zhang C, Hou T, Wang J, Yu Q, Zhang Y, Sun Y . alleviates LPS-induced acute immune stress in goats by regulating bacterial communities and blood metabolites. Front Immunol. 2023; 14:1099186. PMC: 9899838. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1099186. View

16.

Castillo C, Hernandez J, Bravo A, Lopez-Alonso M, Pereira V, Benedito J . Oxidative status during late pregnancy and early lactation in dairy cows. Vet J. 2005; 169(2):286-92. DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.02.001. View

17.

Zhang Z, Wang C, Du H, Liu Q, Guo G, Huo W . Effects of sodium selenite and coated sodium selenite on lactation performance, total tract nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation in Holstein dairy cows. Animal. 2020; 14(10):2091-2099. DOI: 10.1017/S1751731120000804. View

18.

Zhou M, Huang F, Du X, Wang C, Liu G . Microbial Quality of Donkey Milk during Lactation Stages. Foods. 2024; 12(23). PMC: 10705979. DOI: 10.3390/foods12234272. View

19.

Wang W, Wang Y, Guo T, Gao C, Yang Y, Yang L . Blend of Cinnamaldehyde, Eugenol, and Capsicum Oleoresin Improved Rumen Health of Lambs Fed High-Concentrate Diet as Revealed by Fermentation Characteristics, Epithelial Gene Expression, and Bacterial Community. Animals (Basel). 2023; 13(10). PMC: 10215349. DOI: 10.3390/ani13101663. View

20.

Niyazbekova Z, Yao X, Liu M, Bold N, Tong J, Chang J . Compositional and Functional Comparisons of the Microbiota in the Colostrum and Mature Milk of Dairy Goats. Animals (Basel). 2020; 10(11). PMC: 7690780. DOI: 10.3390/ani10111955. View