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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #110541
Title: SUPPLEMENTAL ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID AND NEONATAL HEALTH AND PERFORMNCE IN WEANEDPIGS

Author
item MADDOCK, K - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item BERG, E - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item ZANNELLI, M - ENDOGEN, INC.
item BEAUSANG, L - ENDOGEN, INC.
item STAHL, C - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item LINVILLE, M - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine if supplementation of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) to neonatal pigs has benefits to immune function, feed conversion, and gain. Fourteen weaned gilts (d 21, 7.06 kg) were randomly allotted to 2 treatments, no LA (CON; n=7) and 56 mg (LA; n=7) of LA/pig/d. Pigs were individually penned and treatments were administered orally for 11 d. Feed intake and body weights were recorded. On d 11, th pigs were nonsurgically fitted with jugular cannulae. On d 12, the pigs received a dose of 150 ug/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Blood samples were collected at 15 min intervals for 30 min prior to the LPS challenge and for 3 h after to monitor serum cortisol, glucose, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon gamma, % Neutrophils (N), and % Lymphocytes (L). Serum cortisol showed a time by treatment interaction (P=0.08), such that, while serum cortisol increased in both groups between 15 and 135 min post LPS, LA pigs showed a less dramatic increase. Serum glucose showed an overall treatment effect (P=0.007) where serum glucose was higher in LA pigs at basal concentrations and throughout the LPS challenge. In both groups, serum glucose increased between 0 and 90 min post LPS, and then decreased for both groups. Percentages of N and L showed a time by treatment effect (P=0.04 and P=0.02, respectively). Basal %N was 40.9 and decreased in CON post LPS to 14% and increased in LA pigs to 43.25%. Basal %L was 51.9 and increased in CON post LPS to 81% and decreased in LA pigs to 49.25%. LA was shown to help maintain neutrophil and lymphocyte populations following an acute LPS challenge suggesting that LA may be beneficial as a feed supplement to enhance neonatal health.