Folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ in reproducing sows: New concepts

Abstract

Matte, J. J., Guay F. and Girard, C. L. 2006. Folic acid and vitamin B 12 in reproducing sows: New concepts. Can. J. Anim. . In pig nutrition, the present gaps in the information on B-complex vitamins have important implications for empiricism and disparities in dietary recommendations. This is particularly true for folic acid (B 9 ) and vitamin B 12 . Recent studies suggest that the beneficial effects of B 9 on sow prolificacy may be due to enhanced embryo development and survival. Embryo synthesis of estrogens and uterine secretions of prostanoids and cytokines during attachment appear to be key factors in vitamin B 9 regulation of embryo development. Nevertheless, embryo and uterine responses to B 9 are often more pronounced in multiparous sows than in gilts. This parity effect on B 9 responses can be attributed to the metabolic interaction with another vitamin, specifically B 12 . The two vitamins are essential for modulating the transfer of one-carbon groups for protein and DNA synthesis, methylation and gene expression. The metabolic pathway involved is the remethylation of methionine from an intermediary metabolite, homocysteine. A deficiency in B 9 or B 12 may induce a local or systemic accumulation of homocysteine, a powerful pro-oxidant known to impair embryo development. It appears that B 12 status, which is about two times lower in gilts than in multiparous sows, could be a limiting factor for the action of vitamin B 9 on uterus and embryo metabolism during the first pregnancy. Vitamin B 12 status is particularly critical since, in early gestation, the sow uterus drains off a massive amount of B 12 , representing two to three times the B 12 plasma pool. Dietary B 12 , at levels 10 times higher than recommended, have been found to maximize B 12 status and minimize homocysteine accumulation in first parity sows. It appears that an optimum B 9 :B 12 ratio, which has yet to be estimated, would enable vitamin B 9 to have full beneficial effects on sow prolificacy. In the future, it is likely that there will be an even greater need for updated information on the requirements for B-complex vitamins given the "dietary fine tuning" that is necessary for the highly producing pigs that have been selected in recent decades. Des études récentes suggèrent que les effets bénéfiques de la B 9 sur la prolificité de la truie seraient dus à un développement accéléré et à une meilleure survie de l'embryon. La synthèse d'oestrogènes par les embryons ainsi que les sécrétions utérines de prostanoïdes et de cytokines pendant l'implantation apparaissent comme des facteurs déterminant de l'effet régulateur de l'acide folique sur le développement et la survie de l'embryon. Néanmoins, ces effets embryonnaires et utérins de l'acide folique sont souvent plus marqués chez les truies multipares que chez les cochettes. Cet effet de la parité sur la réponse à la B 9 pourrait être attribué à une autre vitamine, la B 12 . Ces deux vitamines interviennent dans le transfert d'unités monocarbonées essentielles à la synthèse de protéine, ...

Homocysteine metabolism, growth performance, and immune responses in suckling and weanling piglets1

“…Such differences between studies suggest a parity effect as it has been reported in previous studies carried out during early gestation of sows (Guay et al, 2002). Matte et al (2006) hypothesized that B 12 requirements would be greater in nulliparous sows because of the dual needs for reproduction and for growth and development as compared to reproduction only in mature sows.…”

Betaine in the diet of sows in the first or second reproductive cycle

“…CV: coeficiente de variação, R0: ração controle, R1: ração contendo 0,2% betaína e redução de 50% da exigência para metionina digestível, R2: ração controle com suplementação de 0,2% de produto comercial contendo betaína, R: ração, C: ciclo, NS: não significativo e *: significativo Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para as variáveis: nascidos totais, nascidos vivos, natimortos, mumificados, mortalidade e desmamados. Considerando os efeitos prejudiciais da homocisteína, um metabólito da metionina, sobre o transporte placentário de aminoácidos (JANSSON, 2009) e quando encontrada em níveis elevados pode causar perda gestacional e um prejuízo no desenvolvimento dos fetos (IKEDA et al, 2010;MATTE;GUAY;GIRARD, 2006), uma possível ação positiva da betaína como doador de grupos metil estaria relacionada a redução nos níveis de homocisteína por meio da metilação desta, promovendo o crescimento e a maturação dos conceptos menos desenvolvidos, permitindo maior sobrevivência até o parto (RAMIS et al, 2011;VAN WETTERE;HERDE;HUGHES, 2012); no entanto, as duas formas de inclusão de betaína avaliadas no presente estudo não promoveram tais efeitos, possivelmente devido ao fato das rações terem sido formuladas com base na exigência mínima para metionina digestível para porcas.…”

“…Nesse sentido, a betaína natural é um aditivo extraído da beterraba que atua como osmólito, diminuindo a demanda energética do suíno para manter uma adequada hidratação celular e o correto equilíbrio iônico. Além disso, a betaína apresenta-se como fonte de grupos metil, importante para a conversão de homocisteína em metionina, cuja elevada concentração do primeiro pode prejudicar o desenvolvimento embrionário e aumentar a mortalidade pós-natal (MATTE; GUAY; GIRARD, 2006). Esta forma de atuar da betaína promove uma economia de energia de manutenção para o suíno, além de menor necessidade de doadores de grupos metil de maior custo, tais como a DL-metionina e a colina.…”

Maternal Methyl Donor Supplementation during Gestation Counteracts the Bisphenol A-Induced Impairment of Intestinal Morphology, Disaccharidase Activity, and Nutrient Transporters Gene Expression in Newborn and Weaning Pigs

“…Previous studies found that dietary supplementation with 15 mg/kg of folic acid [17], 3 g/kg of betaine [18], 1650 mg/kg choline [19,20] or 150 μg/kg VB12 [21] was effective in increasing sow litter size, and significantly reduced homocysteine levels in plasma.…”