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Evaluating the antioxidant status of weanling pigs fed dietary vitamins A and E^1,2,3

The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Columbus 43210-1095

⁴ Correspondence:
2027 Coffey Road (phone: 614/292-6987; fax: 614/292-7116; E-mail:
mahan.3{at}osu.edu).

Two experiments evaluated the relationship of vitamin E (source and level) and vitamin A (level) on the apparent absorption and retention of both vitamins in weaned pigs. Both experiments used a combined total of 460 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire x Landrace] x Duroc), housed in elevated 1.2- x 1.2-m crates containing five pigs per pen. Experiment 1 was a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design conducted in seven replicates. Levels of vitamin A (2,200 or 13,200 IU/kg), vitamin E (15 or 90 IU/kg), and two vitamin E sources (D--tocopheryl acetate [D-TAc] or DL--tocopheryl acetate [DL-TAc]) were evaluated over a 35-d period. Vitamin A or E levels and the two vitamin E sources did not affect pig performances to 20 kg BW. Serum retinol and -tocopherol concentrations increased (P < 0.01) as the dietary level of each vitamin increased. Serum -tocopherol declined as dietary vitamin E level increased when vitamin A level increased resulting in an interaction (P < 0.05). Serum -tocopherol concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) at 35-d postweaning when D-TAc was the vitamin E source. Experiment 2 was a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments conducted in six replicates. Three levels of vitamin A (2,200, 13,200, or 26,400 IU/kg) and two sources of vitamin E (D-TAc or DL-TAc) each provided at 40 IU/kg diet were evaluated over a 35-d period. Pig performances to 35-d postweaning were not affected by the dietary variables. Serum -tocopherol (P < 0.01) and retinol (P < 0.05) concentrations increased as their respective vitamin level increased. Serum (P < 0.05) and liver (P < 0.01) -tocopherol concentrations both declined as dietary vitamin A levels increased resulting in interaction responses. Serum -tocopherol concentration was higher (P < 0.05) at 35-d postweaning when d-TAc was the vitamin E source. Dietary vitamin E sources had no effect on serum or liver retinol concentrations. These results demonstrated that both supplemental vitamin A and vitamin E increased in the blood as their dietary levels increased. However, as dietary vitamin A level increased, serum and liver -tocopherol concentrations declined, suggesting a reduced absorption and retention of -tocopherol when weaned pigs were fed high dietary vitamin A levels.

Key Words: Pigs • Vitamin A • Vitamin E • Weaning

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