Odd-chain fatty acids-enriched fats improved the growth and intestinal morphology and function in milk replacers-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 odd chain fatty acids (OCFAs) with different forms on the growth and intestinal morphology and function in milk replacers-fed piglets, as a model for human infants.

Methods: Forty 7-day-old piglets from 8 sows were randomly assigned into 5 groups (n = 8, each of them was from different litters) and fed sow milk or milk replacers supplemented with different kinds of fats (namely, the control fats, and the DHA algal oil-, OCFA algal oil-, and OCFA-enriched fats) for 21 days. The statistical analysis about the data from milk replacers-fed piglet groups was conducted on the one-way ANOVA. And the data between sow milk- and milk replacers-fed piglets were analyzed by unpaired t-test.

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

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