Odd-Chain Fatty Acid-Enriched Fats Improve Growth and Intestinal Morphology and Function in Milk Replacer-Fed Piglets.

Abstract

Background: The intestinal development and nutritional needs of piglets after birth are similar to those of human infants.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of different forms of odd-chain fatty acids (OCFAs) on the growth and intestinal morphology and function of milk replacer-fed piglets, as a model for human infants.

Methods: Forty 7-d-old piglets from 8 sows were randomly assigned into 5 groups (n = 8, each from a different litter) and fed sow milk or milk replacers supplemented with different kinds of fats (control fats, docosahexaenoic acid algal oil-, OCFA algal oil-, and OCFA-enriched fats) for 21 d. One-way analysis of variance was performed to compare the milk replacer-fed piglet groups, and unpaired t test was used to compare sow milk- and milk replacer-fed piglets.

Results: Milk replacers supplemented with OCFA-enriched fats increased the average daily gain (ADG), ratio of villus height to crypt depth, and protein expression of Ki67, phosphorylated (p)-mTOR, p-p70S6k, Occludin, Claudin, and ZO-1 in the selected intestines of piglets and decreased the protein expression of p-ULK1, Parkin, and PINK1 to levels similar to those of the sow milk-fed group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Overall, milk replacers supplemented with OCFA-enriched fats improved the ADG and the intestinal morphology and function of piglets to levels comparable to those of the sow milk-fed piglets.