Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids independently attenuate plasma concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin E2 in Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-challenged growing–finishing pigs

Authors

S D. Upadhaya, Dankook University
J C. Kim, Department of Agriculture and Food, WAFollow
Bruce P. Mullan, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
John R. Pluske, Murdoch UniversityFollow
I H. Kim, Dankook UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2015

Journal Title

Journal of Animal Science

ISSN

Print: 0021-8812 Electronic: 1525-3163

Keywords

animal nutrition, non-ruminant nutrition, pigs, swine, E. coli

Disciplines

Meat Science | Other Animal Sciences

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that vitamin E (Vit E) and omega-3 fatty acids will additively attenuate the production of proinflammatory cytokines and PGE₂ in immune system–stimulated growing–finishing pigs. A total of 80 mixed sex pigs weighing 50.7 ± 0.76 kg (mean ± SE) were blocked and stratified based on sex and BW to a 2 × 2 factorial design with the respective factors being 1) without and with 300 IU Vit E and 2) without and with 25% replacement of tallow to linseed oil as a source of n-3 fatty acids. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicate pens with 5 pigs (3 barrows and 2 gilts) per pen. All pigs were challenged with an intramuscular injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; O111:B4) twice weekly over the 6-wk experiment. After LPS challenge, pigs fed a diet supplemented with n-3 fatty acids had fewer (P < 0.05) white blood cells and tended to show both a reduced (P < 0.10) proportion of lymphocytes and IgG concentration compared with pigs fed a diet without any supplements. Supplementation of n-3 fatty acids reduced (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) serum concentrations of cortisol and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), respectively. The serum concentration of PGE₂ was decreased (P < 0.05) with supplementation of both Vit E and n-3 fatty acids; however, the extent of the reduction was greater (P < 0.001) in pigs fed an n-3 fatty acid–supplemented diet. However, there were no additive effects of the combined supplementation of Vit E and n-3 fatty acids on serum concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and PGE₂. The results suggest that n-3 fatty acids independently attenuate production of TNF-α and PGE₂ in immune system–stimulated growing–finishing pigs.

Recommended Citation

S. D. Upadhaya, J. C. Kim, B. P. Mullan, J. R. Pluske, I. H. Kim, Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids independently attenuate plasma concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin E2 in Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-challenged growing–finishing pigs, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 93, Issue 6, June 2015, Pages 2926–2934, https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2014-8330