In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Fructo-oligosaccharides and Their Effects on Reproductive Performance and Associated Metabolic Syndromes in Peripartum Sows

Sows face peripartum metabolic syndrome (PPMS), characterized by inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, driven by gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study aimed to evaluate fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) as a nutritional intervention to modulate gut microbiota and alleviate PPMS, improving reproductive efficiency. Methods: In vitro fermentation assessed FOS fermentability (gas kinetics, short-chain fatty acids [SCFAs]), while a randomized trial (n = 60 sows) evaluated 10 g/day FOS from gestational day (GD) 90 to farrowing. Key outcomes included reproductive performance, PPMS biomarkers (inflammatory/oxidative stress markers), and gut microbiota via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: In vitro, FOS promoted sustained butyrate production (14.3±1.2 mM) and a biphasic gas profile aligning with distal gut transit. In sows, FOS reduced lactational backfat loss by 23% (P Conclusions: Late-gestation FOS supplementation mitigates PPMS by enhancing gut-derived SCFAs, reducing inflammation/oxidative stress, and improving reproductive cyclicity, offering a precision nutrition strategy for sustainable swine production.