ARS | Publication request: EFFECT OF FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE YOUNG PIG'S IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO AN ENDOTOXIC CHALLENGE

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 19, 2001
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated the potential immunological benefit of adding fish oil to the weaned pig's diet. Twenty-four crossbred male pigs were weaned at 18.7+/.13d of age and placed on a nursery diet containing 6% corn oil as the fat source (Cont, n=12) or 5% fish oil and 1% corn oil as the fat source (FO, n=12) for a period of 15d. Body weights did not differ between the two dietary groups either at the beginning or end of the study. On d 1 pigs received an i.v. injection of either saline (n=6 pigs/dietary group) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 150 ug/kg body weight; n=6/dietary group), and blood samples were collected at 30-min intervals for 5h. Serum was harvested for analysis of cortisol (CS), corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interferon gamma (IFN). A time x treatment x diet interaction (P=.023) was observed for serum CS such that those pigs which consumed the FO diet followed by LPS treatment had a reduced CS response compared to the LPS treated pigs on the Cont diet. A time x treatment interaction (P=.0048) was observed for serum CBG such that LPS treatment reduced CBG as compared to the saline treated pigs. Time x treatment x diet interactions were also observed for serum TNF (P=.084) and IFN (P=.022) such that both the TNF and IFN response to the LPS challenge was lower in those pigs receiving the FO diet. Serum CS was negatively correlated with the CBG response (r = -.40, P<.0001), however, the strongest negative correlation was observed in the LPS treated pigs which consumed the FO diet (r = -.63, P<.0001). While further studies are needed to evaluate the immunologically beneficial effect of fish oil in the nursery pig diet, the present study demonstrates that fish oil does indeed alter the immunological response to an LPS challenge.