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The current study was carried out to determine the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) supplementation during late-gestation and lactation on antioxidative ability and performance of sows and their nursing piglets. A total of 160 multiparous sows were randomly allocated to four treatments with 40 replicates per treatment according to parity number and backfat (BF) thickness. Sows were fed 1 of 4 diets from day 85 of gestation to day 21 of lactation. Experimental treatments were: control diet without LA or 400 ppm, 600 ppm and 800 ppm LA supplementation. Backfat thickness of sows was determined on day 85 and 110 of gestation and days 1 and 21 of lactation. Piglet bodyweight was measured at birth, days 7, 14 and 21. Blood samples were obtained from the sows, and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the sows during lactation was recorded.
There were no differences in backfat thickness or ADFI among treatment groups. Dietary LA supplementation resulted in a decrease in blood urea nitrogen (6.49 vs. 4.85 vs. 4.58 vs. 4.55 mM ± 0.219; P < 0.01) concentration at days 110 of gestation. Dietary 800 ppm LA increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (1,232 vs. 1,045 µM; P < 0.05) and reduced maleic dialdehyde levels (1.40 vs. 1.96 nmol/ml; P < 0.01) of sows compared with the control diet at days 21 of lactation. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation increased the birthweight and weaning weight of piglets (P < 0.01) compared with the control group. Weight gains of piglets from sows fed the 800 ppm LA diets were greater (231 vs. 199 g/day; P < 0.01) between days 7 and 14 compared with piglets from control sows. Weight gain of piglets from sows fed the LA-supplemented diets were greater between days 14 and 21 (193 vs. 212 vs. 211 vs. 216 g/day ± 2.848; P < 0.05) and between days 1 and 21 (186 vs. 201 vs. 198 vs. 211 ± 1.895; P < 0.01) compared with piglets from control-fed sows.
It is concluded that antioxidant LA was effective in enhancing antioxidant enzymes activity and improving the performance of sows and their nursing piglets.
XM Bai, QG Ma, LH Zhao, L Xi, C Ji. 2012. Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on antioxidative ability and performance of sows and nursing piglets. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 96, 955-961. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01205.x.