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This Article Free Via Open Access Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2006-284v1 85/10/2524    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Woodworth, J. C. Articles by Owen, K. Q. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Woodworth, J. C. Articles by Owen, K. Q.

Influence of dietary L-carnitine and chromium picolinate on blood hormones and metabolites of gestating sows fed one meal per day^1,2

Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506

³ Corresponding author: Dritz{at}vet.k-state.edu

Gestating sows (n = 44; parity = 2.0; BW = 208 kg) were used to determine the effects of dietary L-carnitine and Cr picolinate (CrP) on daily blood hormone and metabolite profiles. Diets were formulated as a 2 x 2 factorial with L-carnitine (0 or 50 ppm) and CrP (0 or 200 ppb) and were fed from breeding through gestation, lactation, and 28 d into the subsequent gestation, at which time blood collection occurred. Sows were fed 1 meal per day during gestation (2.04 kg from breeding until d 100 and 2.95 kg from d 100 until farrowing) and ad libitum during lactation. Sows were fitted with indwelling venous catheters, and blood (plasma) was collected at feeding, then once every 15 min for the first 3 h after feeding, and at 6, 9, 15, 20, and 24 h after feeding. Postfeeding and overall insulin and connecting peptide of insulin (c-peptide) was decreased for sows fed diets with CrP or L-carnitine and was greatest for sows fed the control diet; however, sows fed both L-carnitine and CrP had an intermediate response (L-carnitine x CrP, P < 0.01). Postfeeding glucose peak was decreased (P < 0.05) in sows fed diets with L-carnitine, CrP, or both, vs. the control, and mean glucose concentration was decreased (P < 0.01) for sows fed diets with CrP. L-Carnitine decreased (P < 0.04) the NEFA concentration. Sows fed diets with CrP exhibited increased (P < 0.03) postfeeding and overall NEFA and greater (P < 0.02) fasting and overall glycerol. Overall plasma urea N was lowest for sows fed the diet with L-carnitine; however, diets containing CrP had intermediate responses compared with the control (L-carnitine x CrP, P < 0.005). Sows fed diets with L-carnitine had greater (P < 0.008) IGF-I from 3 to 24 h after feeding and tended to exhibit greater (P < 0.06) overall IGFBP-3. Sows fed the diets with CrP had greater (P < 0.05) IGFBP-3 from 2 to 20 h after feeding. No differences were observed for glucagon or triacylglycerol (P > 0.10). The changes in metabolites and metabolic hormones indicate that both L-carnitine and CrP influence energy metabolism of gestating sows; however, their effects on blood hormones and metabolites differ. Thus, the improvement in energy status from adding both L-carnitine and CrP may have an additive effect on reproductive performance of sows.

Key Words: sow • carnitine • chromium • hormonal regulation • metabolite