Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #121405
Title: THE EFFECTS OF ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID (LA) ON PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH OF WEANED NEONATAL PIGS

Author
item MADDOCK, K - UNIV. OF MISSOURI
item BERG, E - UNIV. OF MISSOURI
item STAHL, C - UNIV. OF MISSOURI
item LINVILLE, M - UNIV. OF MISSOURI
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Two trials were conducted to evaluate the potential benefit of supplemental LA on growth, feed conversion, and health status of neonatal pigs. For both trials, gilts were weaned at 21 d of age and treatments were administered orally for 11 d. On d 11, gilts were nonsurgically fitted with jugular cannulae. On d 12, gilts received lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 150 ug/kg) intravenously. Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 30 min prior to and 180 min after LPS to monitor serum glucose, cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), and neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. Trial 1 consisted of 18 gilts (6.74+/0.63 kg) allotted to 3 treatments: 1) no supplemental LA (CON, n=6); 2) LA1, 35 mg/kg BW daily (n=6); 3) LA2, 75 mg/kg BW daily (n=6). ADG (p<0.05) and average daily feed intake (p<0.05) were greater in CON pigs compared to LA1 and LA2 pigs. LA did not affect serum glucose, cortisol, TNF, % neutrophils, and % lymphocytes. LPS increased serum glucose, cortisol, TNF, and decreased % neutrophils and % lymphocytes (p<0.001). A linear contrast of serum glucose showed a trend (p<0.1) such that LA1 was lower than CON. Trial 2 consisted of 21 gilts (7.05+/1.12 kg) allotted to 3 treatments: 1) no supplemental LA (CON, n=7); 2) LA3, 8 mg/kg BW daily (n=7); 3) LA4, 15 mg/kg BW daily (n=7). LA did not affect ADG, average daily feed intake, cortisol, insulin, % neutrophils and % lymphocytes or lymphocyte counts. LPS increased serum glucose, cortisol, TNF, and decreased neutrophil and lymphocyte counts (p<0.001). There was a time by LA effect in serum glucose (p<0.004) where LA3 and LA4 were higher than CON. Time 0 neutrophil counts were higher (p<0.003) in the LA3 and LA4 pigs compared to CON pigs. Results suggest that supplementing LA alters serum glucose and neutrophils following an LPS challenge.