Project Number: 1235-51530-053-11
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Dec 01, 2011
End Date: Dec 01, 2013

Objective:
The proposed hypothesis is that the modulating effect of milk fat on the intestional micro-biome is associated with improvements in obesegenic diet-induced metabolic syndrome in Ossabaw Pigs. The objective of the research is to determine the impact of health-promoting foods in the face of an obesegenic diet.

Approach:
In testing the hypothesis that consumption of milk fat in the diet promotes the integrity of intestinal barrier function, maintains a healthy intestinal microbiota, and reduces inflammation induced by an obesegenic diet; the effect of different levels and sources of dietary fat on an obesegenic diet in swine will be studied. The impact of fat source will be evaluated in nursing and weaned pigs by comparing functional responses in the intestine, changes in intestinal microbiota composition, induction of systemic inflammatory responses, and changes in gene expression associated with lipogenic and lipolytic pathways. The Cooperator will evaluate the scientific merit of this proposal.