Fig. 2.

Dietary fiber and gut microbe interaction changes the composition of milk. Dietary fiber and gut microbe interaction produces a variety of fermentation products, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Parts of the SCFA are transferred to the mammary gland through the blood circulation, then used as substrates for de novo synthesis of milk fat. Also, some immune factors (e.g. IL-10) from gut are transported to the mammary gland through the intestinal-lymphatic circulation system. Interestingly, there is a possibility that gut microbe can enter the lymph nodes through dendritic cells (DC) and then reach the mammary gland through the intestinal-lymphatic circulation system. These factors result in the changes of sow milk composition. Ultimately, the beneficial effects of the interaction between dietary fiber and gut microbes are passed from mother to offspring through lactation.