Temporal plasma vitamin concentrations are altered by fat-soluble vitamin administration in suckling pigs1

Abstract

Piglets are born with purportedly low plasma vitamin D levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fat-soluble vitamin administration, primarily vitamin D, by different administration routes on plasma vitamin concentrations in suckling pigs. A total of 45 pigs from 5 litters were allotted at birth to 3 treatments within each litter. Pigs were administered 400 IU of α-tocopherol, 40,000 IU of retinyl palmitate, and 40,000 IU of vitamin D at d 1 of age either orally or by i.m. injection and compared with control pigs with no supplemental vitamin administration. Blood samples were collected at d 0 (initial), 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 14, and 20 after administration. Plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD), α-tocopherol, retinyl palmitate, and retinol concentrations were analyzed. Except for retinol, the effects of treatment, day, and day × treatment interaction ( < 0.01) were observed on plasma vitamin concentrations. Plasma concentrations of 25OHD and α-tocopherol increased immediately regardless of administration routes to peak at d 2 and 1 after administration, respectively. Plasma retinyl palmitate concentrations increased only with the injection treatment, with the peak at d 1 after administration. Plasma concentrations of 25OHD in both administration treatments and α-tocopherol in the injection treatment were maintained at greater levels than those in the control treatment until d 20 after administration. With regard to the pharmacokinetic parameters for plasma 25OHD concentrations, the injection treatment had greater elimination half-life ( < 0.01), maximum plasma concentrations ( < 0.05), and all area under the curve parameters ( < 0.01) but a lower elimination rate constant ( < 0.01) than the oral treatment. Relative bioavailability of oral administration compared with injection administration was 55.26%. These results indicate that plasma status of 25OHD,α-tocopherol, and retinyl palmitate are differentially changed between types of vitamins administered and between administration routes and that the injection route had a greater increase and slower disappearance of plasma vitamin levels than the oral route during the suckling period.

Administration of vitamin D3 by injection or drinking water alters serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations of nursery pigs

“…Serum 25-OHD 3 concentrations of the pigs in the water group were greater than those in the CON group until d 21 post-administration (p<0.05) and similar at d 28 and 35 of post-administration. This result agrees with Jang et al [ 6 ] who reported that plasma 25-OHD 3 concentrations of suckling piglets increased with vitamin D 3 administration either orally or by IM injection but the injection had greater efficiency to enhance plasma 25-OHD 3 concentrations compared to oral administration. Jang et al [ 5 ] also reported that vitamin D 3 administration to nursery pigs via drinking water from weaning for 14 d increased plasma 25-OHD 3 concentrations at d 14 postweaning.…”

“…In the temporal change of serum 25-OHD 3 concentrations ( Table 4 ), serum values in the injection group reached a peak at d 3 post administration and were reduced afterward which is similar to that reported by Jang et al [ 6 ]. However, this peak day was postponed a day later than from Jang et al [ 6 ] that reported the peak day at d 2 after a single vitamin D 3 injection to newborn pigs with the same amount of vitamin D 3 as used in the current study.…”

“…In the temporal change of serum 25-OHD 3 concentrations ( Table 4 ), serum values in the injection group reached a peak at d 3 post administration and were reduced afterward which is similar to that reported by Jang et al [ 6 ]. However, this peak day was postponed a day later than from Jang et al [ 6 ] that reported the peak day at d 2 after a single vitamin D 3 injection to newborn pigs with the same amount of vitamin D 3 as used in the current study. It has been reported that when dairy calves received radioactive-labeled vitamin D 3 orally, plasma levels of labeled vitamin D 3 had a predominant peak between 1 to 2 d, while plasma levels of labeled 25-OHD 3 became predominant with its maximum concentrations between 2 to 4 d [ 19 ] which indicate that if vitamin D 3 was administered to the animal, it may require a period of time to be absorbed into the body and converted to the metabolic or circulating form of vitamin D 3 which is 25-OHD 3 .…”

“…It has been reported that when dairy calves received radioactive-labeled vitamin D 3 orally, plasma levels of labeled vitamin D 3 had a predominant peak between 1 to 2 d, while plasma levels of labeled 25-OHD 3 became predominant with its maximum concentrations between 2 to 4 d [ 19 ] which indicate that if vitamin D 3 was administered to the animal, it may require a period of time to be absorbed into the body and converted to the metabolic or circulating form of vitamin D 3 which is 25-OHD 3 . However, in the current study, the only difference from Jang et al [ 6 ] was initial BW and age when the vitamin D 3 was administered which may explain the delayed peak day and the lower maximum 25-OHD 3 concentrations (3 times less than those in Jang et al [ 6 ]). Additionally, it should be stated that even though serum 25-OHD 3 concentrations increased with age or BW [ 4 ], the response to vitamin D 3 administration may differ by body size and there could be a dilution effect with increasing BW of pigs as suggested by Jang et al [ 5 ].…”

“…At weaning, pigs were allotted into 3 treatments in 3 replicates with 3 pigs per pen (2 barrows and 1 gilt) based on sex and body weight (BW) in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were: i) control (CON): no supplemental vitamin D 3 beyond that supplied in the diet, ii) intramuscular (IM) injection of 40,000 IU of vitamin D 3 as used in Jang et al [ 5 , 6 ] for newborn pigs and iii) water administration of 5,493 IU of vitamin D 3 per L of drinking water during 14 d postweaning. The commercial products used were from Stuart Products Inc. (Bedford, TX, USA).…”