l-Aspartic acid alleviates aflatoxin B1-induced liver injury by regulating intestinal microflora homeostasis and bile acid metabolism.

Abstract

Background: Dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination poses a significant threat to livestock health and food safety by causing severe liver injury. l-Aspartic acid (l-Asp) is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties but its potential to mitigate AFB1-induced hepatotoxicity and associated intestinal dysbiosis in rabbits remains unexplored. To address this, 35-day-old rabbits (n = 50) were assigned randomly to five groups: a control group, an AFB1 (0.3 mg kg^-1 bodyweight) group, and three groups receiving dietary l-Asp supplementation (0.5%, 1.0%, or 1.5%) for 21 days, with AFB1 administered during the final 5 days.

Result: The results demonstrated that l-Asp pretreatment significantly alleviated AFB1-induced impairments in growth performance and serum biochemical parameters. It also reduced hepatic collagen fiber deposition, ameliorated ileal barrier damage, and restored the gut microbiota composition and normalized bile acid metabolism, which correlated with the regulation of key metabolic receptors.

Conclusion: This study established 1.0% l-asp as an effective, gut-liver axis-targeted intervention against AFB1 toxicity in rabbits. This work emphasizes its nutritional potential and provides a clear rationale for future studies to elucidate its molecular mechanisms. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.