n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the maternal diet modify the postnatal development of nervous regulation of intestinal permeability in piglets

摘要

Non-technical summaryIn this study, we demonstrated that supplementation of the maternal diet with a particular fatty acid, 18:3 n-3, the precursor of the n-3 fatty acid family, modified intestinal permeability, probably via diet-induced neuroplastic changes of the enteric nervous system of newborn piglets. These findings suggest that feeding fatty acids of the n-3 family during pregnancy and lactation impact newborn intestinal barrier function. However, the beneficial versus harmful consequences of this increased intestinal permeability remain to be elucidated.