Effect of Dietary Fat Composition and 2’Fucosyllactose on Neonatal Piglet Growth and Organ Lipid Composition

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of 2’fucosyllactose (2’FL) and fat blends on growth, body composition and fatty acid profile of the liver and brain using the neonatal pig as a model for the human infant. Methods Pigs (3 d old) were randomly assigned to either: 1. control, 2. Palm Olein (PO) fat blend – Low 2'-FL, 3. PO – High 2'-FL, 4. High oleic acid (HO) – Low 2'-FL, 5. HO FB – High 2'-FL, 6. PO FB – GLA, or 7. kept with their sows. Pigs in groups 1 to 6 received 250 ml·kg−1·d−1 of formula in 5 equal meals for 15 d. On day 14 of the study, groups 1–6 received intraperitoneal E. coli LPS challenge at 100 µg·kg−1 weight. Results Body weight was greater for piglets fed by sows than those in the other groups (P < 0.001). In addition, % fat and bone mineral content were higher in the sow-fed group while lean % was less sow-fed piglets (group 7) compared with those in the other groups (P < 0.05). Only longissimus weight expressed as a % of body weight, was greater for group 7 compared with all other groups (P < 0.001). Soleus, semitendinosus, brain, heart and spleen weights as a % of body weight were similar across all groups. However, liver weight as a % of body weight was greater in groups 1–6 (3.7%) compared with group 7 (2.8%; P < 0.001). The proportion of brain 16:1 fatty acid was less (0.83%) for groups 1–6 than for group 7 pigs (1.08%; P < 0.0001). The proportion of 20:3 N6 was greatest (0.66%) for group 3 compared with groups 1 and 4 (0.55%; P < 0.05). In addition, the proportion of 20:5 N3 was greatest (0.12%) for group 3 compared with groups 1 and 7 (0.07%; P < 0.05). The proportion of liver 16:1, 18:0, and 18:1 cis-11 fatty acids were greater for group 7 (2.3, 23, 2.2%) than groups 1–6 (0.2, 20, 1.2%; P < 0.0001). Conversely, the contribution of 14:0, 18:1 cis-9, 18:3 N6 cis-6,9,12, and 22:6 N3 were greater for pigs in groups 1–6 (1.3, 0.6, and 14, 7.8%) compared with those in group 7 (0.5, 8.5, 0.2 and 3.5%; P < 0.0001). Conclusions Our data suggest that feeding 2’fucosyllactose had no effect on the body weight gain and composition in neonatal pigs. Our data also suggest that dietary fatty acids have a greater effect on liver than on brain fatty acid composition. Funding Sources Funding for the work was provided by Perrigo Nutritionals, LLC.