Effect of Non-starch Polysaccharides and Resistant Starch on Mucin Secretion and Endogenous Amino Acid Losses in Pigs

Generally, dietary fibre (DF) includes lignin, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and resistant starch (RS). In monogastric species, low levels of dietary fibre in the diet are associated with various diseases and high levels reduce nutrient digestibilities. In this study, the effects of different types and levels of NSP (soluble: β-glucan, insoluble cellulose) and resistant starch on mucin secretion and endogenous nitrogen and amino acid losses in pigs were investigated. A total of 25 five-week-old weaner pigs (9.5 kg±1.5 kg), were randomly allocated to each of five experimental diets. Different levels of purified barley β-glucan (BG) extract (5 or 10% of Glucagel β-glucan, providing 4 or 8% of BG in the diet), and resistant starch (RS) (8.3 or 16.6% of Hi-Maize, providing 5 or 10% RS in the diet) were substituted for wheat starch in a purified diet in which enzymatically-hydrolysed casein was the sole source of protein. The diets were fed for 21 days. No statistically significant difference between treatments (p>0.05) was observed for growth performance and organs weights. No difference in ileal starch digestibility was observed between pigs on the cellulose or β-glucan diets. However, as the level of resistant starch in the diet increased the ileal starch digestibility decreased (p<0.05). The inclusion of resistant starch in the diet (5 or 10%) did not increase mucin production when compared with the cellulose-only diet. However, as the level of beta-glucan in the diet increased, both crude mucin in the digesta dry matter and per kg dry matter intake increased (p<0.05). Pigs fed the diet containing 8% of beta-glucan had higher endogenous loss flow than those fed the diets including 5 or 10% of resistant starch or 4% of β-glucan. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of resistant starch increased the level of starch reaching the large intestine without any effect on mucin secretion, or endogenous nitrogen or amino acid losses content in the small intestine. The addition of β-glucan to a diet containing cellulose increases both mucin secretion and endogenous amino acid and nitrogen losses in the small intestine. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2005. Vol 18, No. 11 : 1634-1641)