Long-Term Effect of Maternal Antioxidant Supplementation on the Lipid Profile of the Progeny According to the Sow's Parity Number

Abstract

Pig feeding prior to the extensive fattening phase might affect the final lipid profile and product quality. This study evaluates how maternal supplementation with vitamin E (VITE) (100 mg/kg), hydroxytyrosol (HXT) (1.5 mg/kg), or combined administration (VE + HXT) affects the piglet's plasma and tissues' fatty acid profiles and lipid stability according to the sow's parity number (PN), as well as the possible changes to the lipid profile after extensive feeding. The sows' PN affected the total fatty acid profile of plasma, muscle, and liver of piglets, with lower Δ-9 and Δ-6 desaturase indices but higher Δ-5 in those from primiparous (P) than multiparous (M) sows. Dietary VITE was more effective at decreasing C16:0 and saturated fatty acids in the muscle of piglets born from M than P sows, and modified the liver phospholipids in a different way. Sows' supplementation with HXT increased C18:2n-6 in triglycerides and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in muscle phospholipids. In the liver, HXT supplementation also increased free-PUFA and free-n-3 fatty acids. However, lipid oxidation of piglets' tissues was not affected by the antioxidant supplementation, and it was higher in the livers of piglets born from M sows. The fatty acid profile in the muscle of pigs after extensive feeding was not affected by the PN, but it was by the sows' antioxidant supplementation, with positive effects on quality by both compounds.

Keywords: antioxidants; hydroxytyrosol; meat quality; piglet tissues; sow diet; vitamin E.

Figure 1

Significant effect of the maternal parity number (multiparous: M; or primiparous: P), on the total fatty acid profile of plasma (A), longissimus dorsi muscle (B), or liver (C) of piglets 5 days post-weaning. ∑SAT = sum of total saturated fatty acids; ∑MUFA = sum of total monounsaturated fatty acids; ∑PUFA = sum of total polyunsaturated fatty acids; Δ-9−desaturase index = (C14:1 + C16:1 + C18:1)/C14:0 + C14:1 + C16:0 + C16:1 + C18:0 + C18:1); Δ6-desaturase = (C18:3n-6 + C18:4n-3)/(C18:2n-6 + C18:3n-3 + C18:3n-6 + C18:4n-3); Δ5-desaturase = (C20:4n-6)/(C20:3n-6 + C20:4n-6).

Figure 2

Significant effects of the maternal supplementation with VITE (30 vs. 100 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg) or HXT (0 vs. 1.5 mg/kg) on the fatty acid profile (A) triglycerides or (B) phospholipids of longissimus dorsi muscle from piglets 5 days post-weaning. ∑MUFA = sum of total monounsaturated fatty acids; ∑PUFA = sum of total polyunsaturated fatty acids. ^a,b Numbers with different superscript were statistically significant.

Figure 3

Interaction effect between the maternal parity number (multiparous: M; or primiparous: P) and the antioxidant supplementation on the fatty acid profile of (A) triglycerides or (B) phospholipids of longissimus dorsi muscle from piglets 5 days post-weaning. ∑SAT = sum of total saturated fatty acids.

Figure 4

Significant effects of maternal supplementation with VITE (30 vs. 100 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg) or HXT (0 vs. 1.5 mg/kg) on the free fatty acid profile of liver from piglets 5 days post-weaning. ∑SAT = sum of total saturated fatty acids; ∑PUFA = sum of total polyunsaturated fatty acids. ^a,b Numbers with different superscript were statistically significant.

Figure 5

Interaction effect between the maternal parity number (multiparous: M; or primiparous: P) and antioxidant supplementation on the fatty acid profile of phospholipids of the liver from piglets 5 days post-weaning. ∑SAT = sum of total saturated fatty acids; Δ-9−desaturase index = (C14:1 + C16:1 + C18:1)/C14:0 + C14:1 + C16:0 + C16:1 + C18:0 + C18:1).

Figure 6

Effects of the sows’ supplementation with VITE (30 vs. 100 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg) or HXT (0 vs. 1.5 mg/kg) on the α-tocopherol content and MDA concentration of muscle (A) or liver (B) from piglets 5 days post-weaning. Control = 30 mg of α-tocopheryl acetate/kg feed + 0 mg/kg hydroxytyrosol; VE = 100 mg of α-tocopheryl acetate/kg feed + 0 mg/kg hydroxytyrosol; HXT = 30 mg of α-tocopheryl acetate/kg feed + 1.5 mg/kg hydroxytyrosol; VE + HXT = 100 mg of α-tocopheryl acetate/kg feed + 1.5 mg/kg hydroxytyrosol; p = differences were statistically different when p < 0.05; ^a,b Numbers with different superscripts were statistically significant.

Figure 7

Significant effect of the maternal parity number (multiparous: M; or primiparous: P) on the alpha-tocopherol content (A) and malondyaldehyde (MDA) concentration (B), in liver samples from piglets 5 days post-weaning.