Damage of mucosa cells
Disrupted gut integrity
Translocation
Inflammation signals
ROS release
Inflammation Oxidative stress
Translocation
SANDRA CHAMUSCO
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
PARTNER FEATURE ▶▶▶
The role of lignans in reducing antibiotic use
Lignans are bioactive substances derived from wood that can support livestock animals to combat inflammation. As such, they could play a role in reducing the amount of antibiotics that are used on a farm.
BY DR ANGELA RIEMENSPERGER, AGROMED, AUSTRIA R Gut lumen
educing the use of antibiotics in livestock production, as well as for human consumption, has been a priori- ty for a number of years. Last year the European Food Safety Authority, the European Medicines Agency
and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported a substantial decrease in the use of antibiotics. The authorities also stated that the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals is now lower than their use in hu- mans; in 2012, the use of antibiotics in livestock production was double that in humans according to the World Health Organization.
Inflammation and its consequences Despite the global trend of withdrawing antibiotic agents in animal production, in-feed antibiotics are still used in differ- ent parts of the world not only to prevent or treat infections but also to improve growth and production. Although not
Figure 1 – Causes and consequences of inflammation. Pathogenic bacteria + Enterotoxins + Endotoxins
Liver
fully understood, the mode of action of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) goes beyond simple limitation of microbial activity in the intestinal tract of livestock animals. A reduction of bacterial growth implies reduced competition for nutrients, but equally important are the anti-inflammato- ry effects of AGPs in helping to reduce metabolic costs of the immune system. Infections always cause inflammation, a process by which the body tries to protect itself from outside invaders such as bacteria, enterotoxins and endotoxins. The consequences of inflammatory processes are diverse. In- flammation results in damage to mucosa cells, which disturbs nutrient absorption. As a further consequence, energy and amino acids are needed to repair the damaged cells. These nutrients are lost to the animal. The damage to the mucosa cells subsequently results in disrupted gut integrity, which al- lows pathogens and toxins to translocate into the blood- stream and enter other parts of the body. The liver, as a cen- tral organ, is highly affected by the translocation of toxins and pathogens. Mucosa cell inflammation also causes the release of proinflam- matory cytokines and other signalling substances. The oxida- tive stress caused by the presence of pathogenic bacteria, en- terotoxins and endotoxins further damages cells and triggers inflammation. This becomes a vicious cycle of inflammation, resulting in the release of reactive oxygen substances. The liver is the central organ involved in inflammatory pro- cesses such as the production of signalling substances, wound healing etc., which are energy-consuming processes. Detoxification processes also carried out by the liver function are energy-demanding. When the liver itself is affected by in- flammation or oxidative stress, the whole system becomes unbalanced. This leads to impaired energy and protein metabolism and consequently to reduced growth and debilitated performance.
Mucosa cells Blood stream
Pathogenic bacteria + Enterotoxins + Endotoxins + ROS + Inflammation signals
How can lignans help? Wood lignans are molecules that are highly active in the gut, where they reduce the causes and consequences of inflam- mation by targeting different phases of the inflammatory cas- cade. Lignans have antibacterial effects. They damage the bacterial membrane, allowing harmful substances to enter the bacterial cell and leading to cell death. Lignans also provide gut barrier support to prevent
28 ▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 38, No. 4, 2022
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