1. Effect of Maternal Dietary Redox Levels on Antioxidative Status and Immunity of the Suckling Off-Spring.
- Author
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Lauridsen C, Schönherz AA, and Højsgaard S
- Abstract
This study investigates two levels of dietary selenium (Se) and vitamin E in combination on their status in sows and their progeny, and influence on antioxidant status and immunological responses of the piglets at weaning. Female pigs ( n = 6) were provided LOW or HIGH antioxidant nutrition (Se and vitamin E) from mating until weaning of their off-spring. The HIGH treatment elevated the concentration of Se ( p = 0.015) and α-tocopherol ( p = 0.023) in plasma of piglets compared with piglets of the LOW treatment. Treatments also affected the concentrations of milk and sow plasma immunoglobulins. Piglets from sows on the HIGH treatment had increased ( p < 0.001) activity of glutathione peroxidase, lower serum levels of C-reactive protein ( p = 0.005), haptoglobin ( p = 0.05) and albumin ( p = 0.05), and the number of white blood cells ( p = 0.023) and the ratio of NEU to LYM was lower ( p = 0.025) than in piglets from sows on the LOW group. Furthermore, the dietary antioxidant level influenced responses of cytokines (interleukine (IL) 6 ( p = 0.007), 12 ( p = 0.01) and 18 ( p = 0.01)) in piglets' plasma. In conclusion, improved antioxidant status via dietary maternal provision improves the robustness of the offspring via immunomodulatory mechanisms.
- Published
- 2021
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