PSVII-16 Dietary creatine and sulfur amino acids for finishing gilts

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary creatine and SID methionine+cysteine (Met+Cys) levels on the performance, blood parameters and gene expression of the creatine transporter (SLC6A8) in finishing gilts. Forty gilts, averaging 75.26 ± 0.87 kg of initial weight, were distributed in a randomized blocks design in a 2x2 factorial scheme, consisting of two creatine monohydrate (CMH) supplementation levels (0.00 and 0.10%) and two levels of SID Met+Cys (0.40 and 0.44%, considering 0.44% as the requirement), with 10 replicates. DL methionine was used to ensure the dietary SID Met+Cys levels. Upon reaching a mean weight of 100± 5.85, blood was collected for the determination of urea, creatinine, lactate, glucose and homocysteine plasma concentrations. Afterwards, the gilts were slaughtered for the collection of Longissimus dorsi muscle samples, for further determination of the gene expression of the creatine transporter (SLC6A8). No interactions (P > 0.05) we observed between the CMH and SID Met+Cys on the performance and gene expression of the SLC6A8 transporter, and also were not affected (P > 0.05) by the dietary levels of CMH or SID Met+Cys, individually. However, there was an interaction (P = 0.03) between SID Met+Cys and CMH levels on the plasma creatinine concentration, showing a lower (P = 0.018) concentration (6.40 mg/dL) supplementing 0.10% CMH than not supplementing (8.96 mg/dL), only at 0.44% of SID Met+Cys. There were no interactions (P > 0.05) between SID Met+Cys and CMH on the other blood parameters, and also no individual effects were observed for the studied factors. It is concluded that supplementing 0.10% CMH reduced plasma creatinine concentration only at conventionally dietary SID Met+Cys level (0.44%), not affecting other blood parameters, growth performance and the gene expression of the creatine transporter SLC6A8 of finishing gilts.