Abstract: Considering that vitamin deficiency is prevalent in children, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hawthorn and malt as well as their combination with dietary fibers (polydextrose and xylooligosaccharide) on intestinal function in weaned mice deficient in VB1, VB2, VB6 and VA. The results showed that the intestinal motility of vitamin-deficient mice was significantly promoted by high-dose hawthorn + malt alone and in combination with dietary fibers. Vitamin deficiency significantly reduced body mass gain, food intake and feed utilization in rats by 34.29%, 17.78% and 19.24% (P < 0.05), respectively, the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in jejunum and ileum by 37.30% and 36.79% (P < 0.05), and the contents of acetic acid and total short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in feces by 37.63% and 43.87% (P < 0.05), respectively, compared with the normal group. Food intake and body mass gain in vitamin-deficient rats were significantly increased by 7.84% and 14.77% in the high-dose hawthorn + malt group compared with the vitamin deficiency model group (P < 0.05), respectively. Feed utilization rate in the low-dose hawthorn + malt + dietary fiber group was significantly increased by 11.58%. The ratio of jejunal villus height and crypt depth in the high-dose hawthorn + malt and low-dose hawthorn + malt + dietary fiber groups increased significantly by 52.65% and 47.35% (P < 0.05), respectively. The contents of fecal acetic acid and total SCFAs increased by 46.86% and 78.00% in the high-dose hawthorn + malt group (P < 0.05), and by 43.74% and 44.91% in the low-dose hawthorn + malt + dietary fiber group (P < 0.05), respectively. High-dose hawthorn + malt + dietary fiber treatment led to excessive growth of Parabacteroides in the intestinal tract, thus reducing the diversity and balance of the intestinal flora. High-dose hawthorn + malt treatment could regulate the composition of the intestinal flora and increase the abundance of Lactobacillus and Akkermansia in vitamin-deficient rats. In conclusion, high-dose hawthorn + malt treatment can improve the intestinal flora of rats to some extent, and its effect is similar to that of low-dose hawthorn + malt + dietary fibers. Both of them can promote the growth of bacteria producing SCFA, increasing the intestinal content of SCFAs, improve intestinal morphology, and enhance intestinal absorption function in vitamin-deficient rats, thereby promoting the growth and development of vitamin-deficient rats. These results provide a scientific basis for the development of functional foods.

Key words: hawthorn; malt; dietary fibers; vitamin deficiency; intestinal function