The growth of exocrine pancreatic insufficient young pigs fed an elemental diet is dependent on enteral pancreatin supplementation

Abstract

Young exocrine pancreas insufficient (EPI) pigs given a commercial feed (polymeric diet) show growth retardation that can be reversed by dietary supplementation with pancreatic enzymes. Our aim was to investigate if providing an elemental diet, mimicking a pre-digested diet, can support body growth in EPI-pigs. Thus, EPI-pigs, pancreatic duct-ligated at 12.2 ± 2.6 weeks of age (15.3 ± 4.8 kg), were fed for 6 days either a commercial polymeric pig feed or infused i.v. with an elemental diet, with or without oral supplementation with a porcine enzyme preparation (Creon®). The body weight (BW) gain was then compared at day 7. Control pigs (with intact pancreata) showed a 14.0 ± 1.3% increase in BW independent of the diet, while EPI-pigs given the same diets either lost (polymeric diet) or slightly increased (elemental diet) their BW. In contrast, EPI-pigs fed the polymeric feed with Creon supplementation showed a normalised growth and EPI-pigs given the elemental diet with Creon supplementation gained 8.5 ± 0.7% in BW. In conclusion, control pigs maintained a normal growth, independently of the diet being given in polymeric or elemental form, while EPI-pigs showed an impaired growth when receiving the same diets without oral enzyme supplementation. This suggests that pancreatic juice or enzyme preparations, in addition to their digestive properties, stimulate nutrient assimilation and anabolic processes in young fast-growing pigs.