Difference in Performance of EPI Pigs Fed Either Lipase-Predigested or Creon®-Supplemented Semielemental Diet

Abstract

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) and fat predigestion are key in ensuring the optimal growth of patients with cystic fibrosis. Our study attempted to highlight differences between fat predigestion and conventional PERT on body composition of young pigs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). EPI and healthy pigs were fed with high-fat diet for six weeks. During the last two weeks of the study, all pigs received additional nocturnal alimentation with Peptamen AF (PAF) and were divided into three groups: H—healthy pigs receiving PAF; P—EPI pigs receiving PAF+PERT; and L—EPI pigs receiving PAF predigested with an immobilized microbial lipase. Additional nocturnal alimentation increased the body weight gain of EPI pigs with better efficacy in P pigs. Humerus length and area in pigs in groups L and P were lower than that observed in pigs in group H ( p value 0.005-0.088). However, bone mineral density and strength were significantly higher in P and L as compared to that of H pigs ( p value 0.0026-0.0739). The gut structure was improved in P pigs. The levels of neurospecific proteins measured in the brain were mainly affected in P and less in L pigs as compared to H pigs. The beneficial effects of the nocturnal feeding with the semielemental diet in the prevention of EPI pigs’ growth/development retardation are differently modified by PERT or fat predigestion in terms of growth, bone properties, neurospecific protein distribution, and gut structure.

Pre-digestion of the lipids in infant formula affects gut maturation of the preterm pig

“…After gastric port insertion, piglets were randomly divided into 2 groups depending on treatment: preterm piglets (n = 9) fed infant formula (IF) (SPT group); preterm piglets (n = 9) fed pre-hydrolyzed IF (PPT group); preterm piglets (n = 4) not subjected to any treatment and euthanized within 2 hours after delivery served as an intact, control group (PT group). The infant formula fed to the PPT group was hydrolyzed as previously described [ 19 , 24 ]. In brief, immobilized microbial lipase (iML, Lipase 534641, Sigma-Aldrich) in a mesh bag was placed in the infant formula mixture and stirred for 15 minutes at 35–37°C before each feeding.…”