<p>This study aims to investigate the effects of maternal supplementation with galactooligosaccharides (GOS) on intestinal digestion, absorption, and barrier function of offspring. Twenty four late-pregnant Ningxiang sows were randomly assigned into 3 treatments, including basic diet, basic diet with 0.5% GOS, basic diet with 100 mg/kg aureomycin, 20mg/kg ciprofloxacin and 10mg/kg vancomycin. The results showed that maternal dietary supplementation of GOS increased the body weight and average daily gain, reduced the diarrhea score of piglets, and increased the activities of digestive enzymes including maltase and α-amylase. Maternal GOS improved the intestinal barrier integrity and function of piglets, which exhibiting with increased ileal ratio of villus to crypt, and higher expressions of secretory immunoglobulin A, tight junction protein and mucin-2 in ileum. Maternal GOS treatment increased the contents of anti-inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β, but decreased the contents of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 in the ileum and colon of piglets. In addition, piglets in maternal GOS treatment had increased abundance of probiotics in the colonic contents, as well as higher short-chain fatty acids concentrations in the colonic and cecal contents. Overall, this study provides data support for the nutritional regulation of maternal supplementation with 0.5% GOS to promote intestinal health of offspring.</p> Graphical abstract <p>Maternal dietary supplementation with GOS can enhance the intestinal health of piglets</p>