Abstract
Maternal supplementation with the polyphenol hydroxytyrosol in a swine model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) improves the fetal oxidative status, decreases the appearance of low birth-weight neonates and favors growth during early postnatal stages (lactation). The current study aimed to determine whether hydroxytyrosol supplementation can also improve developmental patterns, metabolic traits, and body composition of the offspring during later postnatal stages (from weaning to adulthood). A total of 21 piglets born from control untreated sows and 20 piglets born from sows treated with hydroxytyrosol during the last two-thirds of pregnancy were selected on the basis of similar body weights at weaning, for avoiding any interfering effects occurred during lactation. The pigs in the treated group had higher average daily weight gain (ADWG) and, therefore, reached higher body weight and corpulence, greater muscle development and higher adiposity than their control counterparts. The following were not found: significant effects on metabolism and body composition except changes in the muscular fatty acid composition of the treated pigs coming from the largest litters; those more affected by IUGR processes. These findings suggest that maternal supplementation with hydroxytyrosol may improve juvenile development of offspring in at-risk pregnancies and pave the way for more specific studies aiming to elucidate effects on adiposity, metabolism, and meat organoleptic characteristics.
Highlights
In both humans and animal species, Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and subsequentLow Birth Weight (LBW) is a common feature in pregnancies challenged by either maternal malnutrition/hypoxia or placental insufficiency [1]
We studied the effects of the maternal hydroxytyrosol supplementation on postnatal changes in body weight and size, adiposity, plasma indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism, histological characteristics of muscle and fat, and tissue fatty acid (FA) composition after weaning
One of them was stored at −20 ◦ C for assessment of total fat percentage and fatty acids composition while the other was fixed in 10%
Summary
In both humans and animal species, Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and subsequentLow Birth Weight (LBW) is a common feature in pregnancies challenged by either maternal malnutrition/hypoxia or placental insufficiency [1]. Our group has proven the usefulness of maternal supplementation with hydroxytyrosol (a polyphenol present in olive leaves and fruits [7,8] with even higher antioxidant capacity than vitamin E [9]) for improving fetal oxidative status and decreasing the appearance of LBW neonates in a swine model of IUGR [10,11]. Long-term preclinical studies are necessary to determine the real effects of maternal polyphenol supplementation on the postnatal development and the health/disease status of the offspring. The current study aimed to increase the available information by determining the effects of the hydroxytyrosol prenatal supplementation on the growth patterns, metabolism and body composition in our swine IUGR model during later stages, during the juvenile development
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
