The effect of dietary Laminaria derived laminarin and fucoidan on intestinal microflora and volatile fatty acid concentration in pigs

The effect of laminarin and fucoidan was investigated, independently or in combination, on intestinal fermentation and selected microflora in pigs. Twenty-eight boars were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (n = 7): (T1) control, (T2) control plus 300 ppm laminarin, (T3) control plus 238 ppm fucoidan, and (T4) control plus 300 ppm laminarin and 238 ppm fucoidan. There was a laminarin × fucoidan interaction (P < 0.05) on Enterobacteria spp. in the proximal and distal colon. Pigs offered diets containing laminarin had reduced Enterobacteria spp. compared with pigs offered the control diet. However pigs offered the combination of laminarin and fucoidan had increased Enterobacteria spp. compared with those offered fucoidan alone. Pigs offered diets containing fucoidan had increased Lactobacilli spp. in the proximal (P < 0.05) and distal colon (P < 0.001) compared with pigs offered no fucoidan. Pigs offered diets containing fucoidan had increased concentrations of total volatile fatty acids in the proximal (P < 0.01) and distal colon (P < 0.001) compared with pigs offered no fucoidan. Overall, the intestinal Enterobacteria reductions and increases in Lactobacilli spp. obtained suggest that seaweed derived polysaccharides may provide a dietary means to improve gut health in pigs.