A piglet with surgically induced exocrine pancreatic insufficiency as an animal model of newborns to study fat digestion

Abstract

The maldigestion and malabsorption of fat in infants fed milk formula results due to the minimal production of pancreatic lipase. Thus, to investigate lipid digestion and absorption and mimic the situation in newborns, a young porcine exocrine pancreatic insufficient (EPI) model was adapted and validated in the present study. A total of thirteen EPI pigs, aged 8 weeks old, were randomised into three groups and fed either a milk-based formula or a milk-based formula supplemented with either bacterial or fungal lipase. Digestion and absorption of fat was directly correlated with the addition of lipases as demonstrated by a 30 % increase in the coefficient of fat absorption. In comparison to the control group, a 40 and 25 % reduction in total fat content and 26 and 45 % reduction in n-3 and n-6 fatty acid (FA) content in the stool was observed for lipases 1 and 2, respectively. Improved fat absorption was reflected in the blood levels of lipid parameters. During the experiment, only a very slight gain in body weight was observed in EPI piglets, which can be explained by the absence of pancreatic protease and amylase in the gastrointestinal tract. This is similar to newborn babies that have reduced physiological function of exocrine pancreas. In conclusion, we postulate that the EPI pig model fed with infant formula mimics the growth and lipid digestion and absorption in human neonates and can be used to elucidate further importance of fat and FA in the development and growth of newborns, as well as for testing novel formula compositions.

Diet supplemented with pancreatic-like enzymes of microbial origin restores the hippocampal neuronal plasticity and behaviour in young pigs with experimental exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

“…Elimination of the exocrine pancreas caused total growth retardation which is in agreement with previous studies (Fedkiv, Rengman, Westrom, & Pierzynowski, 2009;Gewert et al, 2004;Goncharova et al, 2014;Rengman et al, 2009). Supplementation of the diet with PLEM for 10 days significantly increased the body mass of EPI pigs (Table 1).…”

“…The development of EPI dramatically reduces the level of digestive enzymes in the small intestine causing a reduction in the digestion of ingested nutrients and thus lowered coefficients of fat and nitrogen absorption (Goncharova et al, 2014). The malnutrition which occurs as a result of EPI can be associated with a deterioration in brain function.…”

Diet-induced changes in brain structure and behavior in old gerbils

“…PUFA levels in the plasma and other tissues were lower in an exocrine pancreas insufficient pig model and increased after PLEM dietary supplementation. 51 The dietary supplementation with 2-OX enhanced plasma levels of 2-OX 52 , 53 and alternated energy metabolism in the pigs. 54 …”

Oral Supplementation with a Special Additive of Retinyl Palmitate and Alpha Tocopherol Reduces Growth Retardation in Young Pancreatic Duct Ligated Pigs Used as a Model for Children Suffering from Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

“…As exocrine pancreatic function is essential for digestion and absorption of nutrients the complete loss of pancreatic secretion causes maldigestion and malabsorption of various macro- and micronutrients [24,25,26,27]. The juvenile PL pig was used in several studies to test the effects of PEI on growth and different parameters in juveniles [23,28,29,30,31]. Due to the tremendous growth rate of juvenile pigs (birth weight: 1.5 kg; weight at six months: 120 kg) deficiencies develop much faster than in humans.…”