Effects of Dietary Paramylon on Nutrient Digestion and Absorption and Intestinal Health of Weaned Piglets
by
, , and
Tianjiao Wu
1,2
,
Zhiming Zhang
1,
Zheng Luo
3,
Fangbao Shu
1,2,
Qi Han
4,
Jie Yin
1,2,*
and
Peng Bin
1 1
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha 410128, China
2
Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
3
Kemin (China) Technologies Co., Ltd., 25 Qinshi Road, Sanzao, Zhuhai 519040, China
4
Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2026, 16(2), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020304
Submission received: 20 November 2025
/
Revised: 15 January 2026
/
Accepted: 15 January 2026
/
Published: 19 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Natural Polysaccharides in Livestock and Poultry Production)
Simple Summary
Natural polysaccharides are gaining widespread attention as sustainable and bioactive feed additives. However, the full potential of many novel polysaccharides remains underexplored. This study focused on Paramylon, a unique β-glucan extracted from Euglena gracilis, to explore its broad potential as a functional nutrient. We found that dietary Paramylon significantly enhanced the growth and nutrient digestion of weaned piglets. It improved the structure and function of the intestine, upregulating key transporters for amino acids to facilitate nutrient absorption. This core mechanism was confirmed in both animal and cellular models. Our work demonstrated that Paramylon is an effective polysaccharide that can enhance digestive health and nutrient uptake of weaned piglets, providing a scientific basis for its application as a novel, natural additive to support sustainable animal production.
Abstract
Weaning stress frequently compromises intestinal integrity and nutrient absorption in piglets and induces structural perturbations in the gut microbiota. This study investigated the effects of dietary Paramylon, a linear β-1,3-glucan from Euglena gracilis, on growth and intestinal function. A total of 32 healthy, 21-day-old weaned piglets (male, castrated, Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly allocated to four groups: control, 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1% Paramylon (8 pigs/group). The results showed that 0.05% dietary Paramylon quadratically increased average daily gain and feed intake (p < 0.05). Serum TC content significantly increased, while the serum urea level significantly decreased (p < 0.05). This optimal dose was used for mechanistic exploration. Dietary 0.05% Paramylon notably enhanced ileal morphology, increasing the villus height to crypt depth ratio (p < 0.01) and significantly improving apparent nutrient digestibility and ileal β-amylase activity (p < 0.05). The expression levels of SLC7A1 and GLUT2 in ileum tissues were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). The expression level of SLC7A7 in the liver was also increased (p < 0.05). This nutrient transport-promoting effect was further confirmed in IPEC-J2 cells, which manifested because 10 ng/mL of pure Paramylon significantly upregulated the gene expressions of SLC38A2, EAAT3, PEPT1, and GLUT2 (p < 0.05). KEGG enrichment analysis on the ileum indicated that differentially abundant metabolites were enriched in amino acid-related metabolic pathways. Furthermore, the 16s sequencing results revealed that Romboutsia was significantly enriched in the Paramylon group. In conclusion, Paramylon, as an effective dietary supplement, helps promote nutrient digestion and absorption in weaned piglets and contributes to maintaining intestinal health.
