Vitamin E and fat supplementation of sows and the effect on tissue vitamin E concentrations in their progeny.
A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing the diets of gestating and lactating sows with 3 levels of vitamin E (22, 44 or 88 IU/kg) and fat (no fat, 5% tallow, or 5% fish oil) on tissue vitamin E concentrations in their progeny. Tissue levels of vitamin E were examined at birth, and then at 14 and 28 d of age in the suckling piglets. Vitamin E concentration in all tissues at birth were very low (hip muscle, neck muscle, lung, brain, heart, kidney < 1.0 microgram/g tissue). Piglet tissue vitamin E levels at birth were influenced by the vitamin E status of the maternal diet during gestation. The piglet tissue concentration of vitamin E increased 2- to 3-fold by 14 d of age. Tocopherol concentrations greater than 3 micrograms/g tissue were found in the liver, lung, spleen, heart and kidney. Tissue vitamin E concentrations of piglets from sows that had received fish oil were lower (significantly in 5 cases: P < 0.05) than piglets from sows receiving tallow or no fat. Tocopherol concentrations in tissues, with the exception of the spleen, increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increased vitamin E in the sows' diet.
Hidiroglou
M
M
Centre for Food and Animal Research, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
Farnworth
E
E
Butler
G
G
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003126:Colostrum / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005395:Fish Oils; D014810:Vitamin E