Plasma metabolomics indicates metabolic perturbations in low birth weight piglets supplemented with arginine1

Abstract

Large profit losses in the swine industry can be attributed to morbidity and mortality of piglets before weaning, especially in the low birth weight (LBW) piglet. Recent evidence suggests sow's milk contains insufficient concentrations of Arg to support optimal growth and health of piglets. Therefore, our objective was to assess global metabolomic profiles and the potential for Arg supplementation to promote growth of LBW (≤0.9 kg BW) and average birth weight (ABW; 1.3 to 1.5 kg BW) piglets. Piglets were selected in littermate pairs at processing to receive either Arg or an isonitrogenous control (Ala) and weighed daily to assess growth rate, and blood was collected at approximately 16 d of age for metabolomics analysis. In terms of growth, LBW and ABW piglets supplemented with Arg weighed 22.3 and 12.7% less, respectively, at d 16 compared with Ala-supplemented piglets of the same birth weight group. Overall, differences ( < 0.05) were observed among treatments for metabolic pathways involving energy (i.e., tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates), AA, nucleotides, and fatty acids. Increased nucleotide turnover, indicative of an increase in DNA damage and cell death, was particularly noted in the LBW piglet. However, Arg supplementation reduced these effects to levels comparable to those observed in ABW piglets. Moreover, changes in glucose metabolism suggested a compromised ability to extract energy from dietary sources may have occurred in the LBW piglet, but these effects were partially recovered by Arg supplementation. We conclude that a reduction in the growth potential of LBW piglets may be associated with alterations in multiple metabolic pathways, and further reduction due to Arg supplementation may have resulted from perturbations in multiple metabolic pathways.

A Single Dose of Fat-Based Energy Supplement to Light Birth Weight Pigs Shortly After Birth Does Not Increase Their Survival and Growth

“…For instance, the energy contribution varies between studies, and some commercial products include immunoglobulins in their composition, which seems to increase IgG levels in small piglets but do not enhance their survival [25]. Furthermore, it is suggested that low birth weight piglets have a reduced energy metabolism, probably because of a lower villus size and consequentially a reduced intestinal surface area available for nutrient absorption [33], which could be reversed by arginine supplementation [34].…”

Efficacy of energy supplementation on growth performance and immune response of suckling pigs

“…As shown in Table 2, 2 data sets were used to evaluate performance: 1) all collected data (average initial BW of 1.479 kg, ranging from 0.750 to 2.250 kg) and 2) low birth weight (LBW; average initial BW of 0.985 kg, ranging from 0.750 to 1.220 kg) data. Piglet birth weight characterization was based on Getty et al (2015). The statistic model included the fixed effect of dietary treatment, whereas random effects included farm, season, sows, and weight order.…”

Influence of l‐carnitine and l‐arginine on protein synthesis and maturation of the semitendinosus muscle of lightweight piglets

“…However, in both studies increased levels of lysine did not ameliorate the adverse effects. In a more recent effort, Getty, Almeida, Baratta, and Dilger () showed that l ‐arginine supplemented to conventionally reared LW piglets also lead to reduced growth. In all three studies it was concluded that the impaired performance was caused by a general amino acid imbalance rather than arginine–lysine antagonism.…”