0
Therefore in the present 15 d study, two levels of dietary AA and DHA (6:1 ratio of AA:DHA diets, 0.6:0.1 or 1.2:0.2 g/100 g dietary fat) vs. a control diet were tested for effects on growth, fatty acid status, whole-body and regional bone mineral content (BMC) and metabolism in SGA piglets categorised as either very low birth weight (VLBW; <1,0 kg; n 12) or low birth weight (LBW; 1.1 to 1.2 kg; n 18).
Growth was not influenced by diet, yet the LBW piglets fed 0.6:0.1 AA and DHA as g/100 g fat had elevated BMC in the spine, whereas the VLBW piglets had higher BMC of the spine if fed the higher intake of AA and DHA. In both weight categories, the higher intake of AA and DHA lowered bone resorption relative to controls, whereas bone formation was unchanged. Tissue fatty acid concentrations reflected dietary AA and DHA, especially trabecular bone of VLBW piglets. Whether the enhanced lumbar spine BMC is due to enhanced Ca absorption and thus suppression of bone resorption remains to be established.
J Kohut, B Watkins and H Weiler, 2009. British Journal of Nutrition, 102, 1117–1120.
