Maternal Purified Fiber-Enriched Akkermansia muciniphila Regulates Lactation and Offspring Growth via the Gut-Mammary Axis
AbstractBackgroundMaternal diet may influence lactation by modulating the gut microbiota via the gut-mammary axis. However, the exact mechanisms by which fiber modulates lactation through gut microbiota remain to be further explored. To address this knowledge gap, the study investigates the impact of maternal purified fiber supplementation on lactation performance and offspring growth.ResultsSupplementation with purified fiber during late gestation significantly enhances maternal lactation performance and promotes offspring growth, primarily through modulation of the maternal gut microbiota composition. Our findings demonstrate that purified fiber intervention markedly increases the abundance of the beneficial mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila in the maternal gut. Consequently, Akkermansia muciniphila-derived SCFAs, particularly acetate and propionate, are elevated. Acetate upregulates the expression of milk fat synthesis-related proteins (FASN, ACACA) via GPR43, while propionate enhances the expression of immunoglobulin transport-related proteins (PIGR, FCRN) through GPR41 signaling. Furthermore, the improvement of maternal lactation performance enhances the intestinal barrier and alleviates lipopolysaccharide induced intestinal inflammation in offspring.ConclusionsMaternal dietary fiber supplementation improves lactation and offspring growth by enriching gut Akkermansia muciniphila, which increases milk fat and immunoglobulins via its metabolites (acetate/propionate) activating GPR41/GPR43 pathways. These findings highlight the gut-mammary axis as a key mediator and support dietary fiber interventions for maternal-offspring health.