Work

Lard promotes intestinal stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation with improved gut microbiota

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The effects of dietary fats on the intestinal barrier have been widely studied, yet their role in intestinal repair remains unclear. Previous studies have primarily focused on fat quantity (e.g., high-fat vs. low-fat diets) and quality (e.g., saturated vs. unsaturated fats), while neglecting the importance of structural properties. This study evaluated the impact of dietary fats with varying sn-2 palmitate levels on intestinal repair using a DSS-induced murine injury model under moderate intake levels. The results indicated that lard, rich in sn-2 palmitate, significantly lowered intestinal permeability, reduced crypt damage, and decreased apoptosis in mice compared to fats low in sn-2 palmitate (corn oil and beef tallow). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that lard significantly increased the number of SOX9, Ki67, MUC2, and PAS-positive cells per crypt, indicating enhanced proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem/progenitor cells, thereby facilitating intestinal repair. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed distinct metabolic profiles of intestinal digestive products derived from dietary fats, with lard leading to enrichment of metabolites such as diacylglycerols, palmitoylcarnitine, and adhumulinic acid. The microbial results showed that lard improved α-diversity and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as unclassified_Lachnospiraceae, unclassified_Muribaculaceae, and Ligilactobacillus. KEGG pathway analysis further demonstrated that lard enriched microbial pathways associated with replication and repair, translation, and amino acid metabolism. Our findings reveal that moderate intake of lard promotes intestinal repair, which is associated with beneficial shifts in metabolite profiles and gut microbiota composition. These results highlight the significance of the sn-2 palmitate structure in dietary fat interventions for promoting intestinal repair.

Source: Food Science and Human Wellness

DOI: 10.26599/fshw.2025.9250886

Authors: Wusun Li, Xiaoyan Tang

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro Products

Language: English

Topic: Gut microbiota and health

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program