Goat Milk Whey Improves Nutritional Status, Fecal Microbial Composition and Intestinal Morphology in Female Rats Fed a Westernized Diet and Their Offspring

This study evaluated whether supplementation with goat milk whey (GMW) affects the nutritional status, intestinal histology and intestinal microbial composition of female rats fed a westernized diet from gestation to lactation, as well as whether changes can be replicated in the offspring at the end of weaning and at 45 days of life. Pregnant female rats were randomized into four groups: control group (CSAL), control group supplemented with GMW (CGOAT), westernized group (WSAL) or westernized group supplemented with GMW (WGOAT). After weaning, half of offspring were euthanized and the rest of the offspring were maintained under the same treatment applied to dams, up to 45 days of life. Body weight, food intake, intestinal histology and counting of fecal microbial groups were determined in both female rats and offspring. The offspring supplemented with GMW showed decreased body weight at weaning. After weaning, groups supplemented with GMW showed reduced body weight and visceral fat, increased fecal lactobacilli counts in rats and offspring and attenuation of damages induced by the westernized diet on intestinal epithelial cells. GMW supplementation caused a positive effect on fecal microbial composition, intestinal morphology and induced reduction in weight gain and visceral fat in female rats and offspring fed westernized diet. These effects appear to be dependent on the animal’s age and period time of GMW supplementation