Lactobacillus reuteri-mediated dietary xylooligosaccharides enhance jejunal cell survival via suppression of oxygen-dependent apoptotic processes in a pig model.

Interactions between functional oligosaccharides and small intestinal cells are increasingly recognized as critical for maintaining intestinal health. Using xylooligosaccharides (XOS) as a model, we demonstrate that XOS promote growth in piglets primarily by enhancing nutrient transport and increasing villus height in the jejunum. These effects are mediated by XOS-driven modulation of the intestinal microbiota, particularly the enrichment of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) as a keystone species. L. reuteri reprograms epithelial energy metabolism toward reduced oxygen dependence, thereby inhibiting epithelial apoptosis and prolonging enterocyte survival. Notably, this protective effect is closely associated with elevated levels of the bile acid glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), implicating a bile acid-dependent mechanism. Together, these findings reveal a microbiota- and metabolite-mediated pathway through which XOS regulate epithelial homeostasis and intestinal health.