Gluconic acid improves performance of newly weaned piglets associated with alterations in gut microbiome and fermentation

Table 6 Effect of diet on histo-morphological indices in distal small intestine in piglets fed the experimental diets (n = 8)^ab

Item	Gluconic acid (g/kg)			SEM	P
Item	0	9	18	SEM	P
Papp FITC 4 k-Da (log₁₀ cm/s.10^–7)	5.0	4.5	5.2	0.6	0.908
Villus height (μm)	294	287	296	10	0.937
Villus width (μm)	137	136	140	3	0.807
VSA (mm²)	0.127	0.122	0.13	0.005	0.846
Crypt depth (μm)	242	247	246	9	0.975
V/C	1.29	1.25	1.32	0.07	0.932
IEL (#10^–3/μm²)	0.329	0.323	0.33	0.018	0.988

^aPiglets were sampled on d 21
^bPapp: apparent permeation coefficient; VSA: villus surface area; V/C: villus-crypt ratio; IEL: intra-epithelial lymphocytes

ISSN: 2055-5660