title: Dietary Prebiotics, Milk Fat Globule Membrane, and Lactoferrin Affects Structural Neurodevelopment in the Young Piglet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and lactoferrin have been identified as two components that have potential to affect neurodevelopment. While concentrations of some MFGM constituents in infant formulas are within human milk range, they may not be present at optimal or clinically effective levels. However, lactoferrin levels of infant formulas are consistently reported to be lower than human milk. This study sought to provide a novel combination of prebiotics, bovine-derived MFGM, and lactoferrin and assess their influence on neurodevelopment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four male piglets were provided either TEST (n = 12) or CONT (n = 12) diet from 2 to 31 days of age. Piglets underwent spatial T-maze assessment starting at 17 days of age, were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging at 30 days of age, and were euthanized for tissue collection at 31 days of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diffusion tensor imaging revealed differences in radial (P = 0.032) and mean (P = 0.028) diffusivities in the internal capsule, where CONT piglets had higher rates of diffusion compared with TEST piglets. Voxel-based morphometry indicated larger (P < 0.05) differences in cortical gray and white matter concentrations, with CONT piglets having larger tissue clusters in these regions compared with TEST piglets. In the spatial T-maze assessment, CONT piglets exhibited shorter latency to choice compared with TEST piglets on day 2 of acquisition and days 3 and 4 of reversal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Observed differences in microstructure maturation of the internal capsule and cortical tissue concentrations suggest that piglets provided TEST diet were more advanced developmentally than piglets provided CONT diet. Therefore, supplementation of infant formula with prebiotics, MFGM, and lactoferrin may support neurodevelopment in human infants.
authors: Piglet Nutrition and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors: Austin T
authors: AT
authors: Mudd
authors: Piglet Nutrition and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois , Urbana, IL , USA.
authors: Lindsey S
authors: LS
authors: Alexander
authors: Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: Berding
authors: Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute , Evansville, IN , USA.
authors: Rosaline V
authors: RV
authors: Waworuntu
authors: Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute, Evansville, IN, USA.
authors: Brian M
authors: BM
authors: Berg
authors: Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors: Sharon M
authors: SM
authors: Donovan
authors: Piglet Nutrition and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors: Ryan N
authors: RN
authors: Dilger
keywords: brain; internal capsule; lactoferrin; milk fat globule membrane; neurodevelopment; nutrition; pig; prebiotics