Folic acid and vitamin B12 in reproducing sows: New concepts

Mechanism of action and the uses betaine in pig production

Betaine, the trimethyl derivative of glycine, is a good methyl group donor, and an important component in pig production. However, betaine has not been extensively studied in this field. Therefore, in this study, we reviewed the effects of betaine in pig production performance, meat quality and reproductive performance, as well as its mechanisms, to provide a theoretical basis for the optimal use and development of this compound.

Effect of gestation dietary methionine-to-lysine ratio on methionine metabolism and antioxidant ability of high-prolific sows

The uptake and metabolism of methionine (Met) are critical for epigenetic regulation, redox homeostasis, and embryo development. Our previous study showed that appropriate supplementation of dietary Met promoted the birth weight and placental angiogenesis of high-prolific sows. To further explore the metabolic effect of Met on pregnant sows, we have evaluated the influence of dietary Met level on Met metabolism, and the relationship between metabolites of Met and reproductive performance, antioxidant ability, and placental angiogenesis throughout the gestation of high-prolific sows. Sixty sows (the 3rd parity, Large White) were randomly divided into 5 groups that were fed diets with standardized ileal digestible (SID) methionine-to-lysine (Met:Lys) ratios of 0.27 (control), 0.32, 0.37, 0.42, and 0.47 from the mating day (gestational d 0, G0d) until the farrowing day. HPLC-MS/MS analysis was used to simultaneously evaluate the metabolites related to Met, e.g. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), and glutathione (GSH). The concentration of SAM and SAH in plasma had significant fluctuations, especially in late pregnancy. Increasing dietary Met supplementation significantly improved the plasma SAM and methylation potential (SAM-to-SAH ratio) at d 114 of pregnancy (G114d). Moreover, a positive association of the plasma SAM concentration at G114d was observed with the litter weight of born alive (P < 0.05; R 2 = 0.58). Furthermore, Hcy concentration in plasma was at the lowest level for 0.37 ratio group at G114d. However, it significantly increased during late pregnancy. Moreover, there were negative correlations between plasma Hcy concentration at G114d (P < 0.05) and the placental vascular density in the fold and stroma (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) in the placenta tissue of 0.37 ratio group increased significantly (P < 0.05). Collectively, these findings indicate that dietary Met:Lys ratio (0.37 to 0.57) in the pregnant diet dose not influence the antioxidant ability of the high-prolific sows; however, the improvement of fetal development and placental angiogenesis of high-prolific sows by supplementation of Met are closely associated to the key Met-related metabolite of SAM and Hcy, respectively.

Methyl-Donor Micronutrient for Gestating Sows: Effects on Gut Microbiota and Metabolome in Offspring Piglets

This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation during gestation on gut microbiota and the fecal metabolic profile in offspring piglets. Forty-three Duroc × Erhualian gilts were assigned to two dietary groups during gestation: control diet (CON) and CON diet supplemented with MET (folic acid, methionine, choline, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12). The body weights of offspring piglets were recorded at birth and weaning. Besides this, fresh fecal samples of offspring piglets were collected at 7, 14, and 21 days. The gut microbiota composition, metabolic profile, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles in the fecal samples were determined using 16S rDNA sequencing, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics, and gas chromatography methods, respectively. The results showed that maternal methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation increased the microbiota diversity and uniformity in feces of offspring piglets as indicated by increased Shannon and Simpson indices at 7 days, and greater Simpson, ACE, Chao1 and observed species indices at 21 days. Specifically, at the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio were elevated by maternal treatment. At the genus level, the relative abundance of SCFA-producing Dialister, Megasphaera, and Turicibacter, and lactate-producing Sharpea as well as Akkermansia, Weissella, and Pediococcus were increased in the MET group. The metabolic analyses show that maternal methyl-donor micronutrient addition increased the concentrations of individual and total SCFAs of 21-day piglets and increased metabolism mainly involving amino acids, pyrimidine, and purine biosynthesis. Collectively, maternal methyl-donor micronutrient addition altered gut microbiota and the fecal metabolic profile, resulting in an improved weaning weight of offspring piglets.

Maternal Methyl-Donor Micronutrient Supplementation During Pregnancy Promotes Skeletal Muscle Differentiation and Maturity in Newborn and Weaning Pigs

Adequate maternal methyl-donor micronutrient (MET) intake is an important determinant of the organ development and metabolic renovation of offspring. The mechanism involved in skeletal myogenesis and the effect of MET supplementation during pregnancy on the maternal body remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential effect of methyl donor micronutrients (MET) on skeletal muscle development and metabolism in offspring using pig models. Forty-three Duroc × Erhualian gilts were assigned to two dietary groups during gestation: control diet (CON) and CON diet supplemented with MET (folic acid, methionine, choline, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12). The results showed that maternal MET exposure during pregnancy significantly increased the concentrations of protein, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in colostrum and methyl metabolites, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH), 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), and betaine, in the maternal and offspring umbilical vein serum. A similar pattern was demonstrated in the body weight gain and myofiber diameters in offspring. In addition, maternal MET supplementation significantly increased the concentration of offspring serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), T3, and T4; upregulated the mRNA expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1r) and the phosphorylation level of protein kinases in offspring longissimus dorsi muscle; and upregulated the expression of myogenic genes and fast myosin heavy chain (fast MyHC) in offspring skeletal muscle. Supplementing sows with higher levels of MET during gestation may promote skeletal muscle differentiation and maturity and improve the skeletal muscle mass of the piglets.

Effect of maternal or post-weaning methyl donor supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of pig offspring

BACKGROUND

Limited studies have examined links between maternal methyl donor (MET) supplementation and the growth-development characteristics of offspring, and possible underlying mechanisms for such links. This study investigated the effect of maternal or post-weaning MET-supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of the finishing (d 180) offspring. Twenty-four sows were placed on a control (C) or MET-supplemented diet during pregnancy and lactation. Forty-eight female offspring were fed the control or MET-supplemented diet from weaning to 6 months of age, resulting in four study groups (six litters per group): C/C, C/MET, MET/C, and MET/MET.

RESULTS

Maternal MET-supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG), body weight (BW), lean percentage and longissimus dorsi (LD) of the offspring at day 180 (P < 0.05), and upregulated the myosin heavy chain IIx, myogenic differentiation and muscle regulatory factor 4 mRNA levels in the LD muscle (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, offspring from maternal MET-supplementation exhibited a higher pH_24h post mortem and superoxide dismutase activity, a lower L^* _45min , glycolytic potential, malonaldehyde content in the LD muscle, and plasma homocysteine concentration (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Maternal MET-supplementation has a remarkable effect on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of the offspring, which is associated with increased expression levels of myogenic genes and anti-oxidant capacity. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of dietary betaine supplementation on production and reproductive performance, milk composition and serum antioxidant profile in gestating sows

Present study was conducted to study the effect of betaine supplementation on production and reproductive performance, milk composition and serum antioxidant profile in gestating sows. For the study, 18 artificially inseminated crossbred (Landrace × Desi) sows were randomly distributed into three groups containing 6 sow each in completely randomized design (CRD). T0 (control) group was supplemented with basal diet, whereas, T1 and T2 groups were fed basal diet supplemented with betaine @ 3 g/kg DM during late gestation (-76 days to farrowing) and throughout the length of gestation, respectively. Litter size at weaning was significantly increased in T2 group as compared to control. Litter weight at weaning (kg) was significantly increased and weaning to estrus interval (days) was significantly decreased in T1 and T2 groups as compared to control. Serum superoxide dismutase level (ng/ml) was unaffected following betaine supplementation. Whereas, serum catalase level (ng/ml) and total antioxidant activity (Mmol/l) was significantly improved while malondialdehyde level (Mmol/l) was significantly reduced in betaine supplemented groups compared to control group. Thus, it can be concluded that, dietary betaine supplementation @ 3 g/kg throughout the length of gestation was helpful in improving reproduction performance, anti-oxidant defense as well as welfare of the pregnant sows.

Maternal Methyl Donor Supplementation during Gestation Counteracts the Bisphenol A-Induced Impairment of Intestinal Morphology, Disaccharidase Activity, and Nutrient Transporters Gene Expression in Newborn and Weaning Pigs

This study was conducted to explore whether exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) during pregnancy could change intestinal digestion and absorption function in offspring using pigs as a model, and whether methyl donor (MET) could counteract the BPA-induced impacts. Fifty Landrace × Yorkshire sows were divided into four dietary groups throughout gestation: control diet (CON); control diet supplemented with BPA (50 mg/kg); control diet supplemented with MET (3 g/kg betaine, 400 mg/kg choline, 150 μg/kg vitamin B12, and 15 mg/kg folic acid); and control diet with BPA and MET supplementation (BPA + MET). Intestine samples were collected from pigs’ offspring at birth and weaning. Maternal BPA exposure during pregnancy significantly reduced the ratio of jejunum villus height to crypt depth, decreased the jejunum sucrase activity, down-regulated the mRNA expression of jejunum peptide transporter 1 (Pept1) and DNA methyl transferase 3a (DNMT3a), and decreased the DNA methylation level of jejunum Pept1 in offspring (p < 0.05). Maternal MET supplementation significantly raised the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in jejunum and ileum, improved the jejunum lactase activity, up-regulated the mRNA expression of jejunum Pept1, lactase (LCT), DNMT1, DNMT3a, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and increased the DNA methylation level of jejunum Pept1 in offspring (p < 0.05). However, the ratio of jejunum villus height to crypt depth was higher in BPA + MET treatment compared with CON and BPA treatment (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, there was no difference in the jejunum sucrase activity, the mRNA expression of jejunum Pept1 and DNMT3a, and the DNA methylation level of jejunum Pept1 between CON and BPA + MET treatment. These results indicated that maternal exposure to BPA during gestation might suppress offspring’s intestinal digestion and absorption function, whereas supplementation of MET could counteract these damages, which might be associated with DNA methylation.

Homocysteine metabolism, growth performance, and immune responses in suckling and weanling piglets

Homocysteine (Hcy), an intermediary sulfur AA, is recognized as a powerful prooxidant with deleterious effects on physiological and immune functions. In piglets, there is an acute 10-fold increase of plasma concentrations of homocysteine (pHcy) during the first 2 wk of life. This project aimed to maximize pHcy variations within physiological ranges using typical supplies of folates and vitamin B12 (B12) to sows and piglets. Growth, immune response, and Hcy metabolism of piglets were studied until piglets reached 56 d of age. Third-parity sows were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 split-plot design with 2 dietary treatments during gestation and lactation, S(-) (1 mg/kg folates and 20 µg/kg B12, n = 15) and S(+) (10-fold S(-) levels, n = 16), and 2 treatments to piglets within each half litter, intramuscular injections (150 µg) of B12 (P(+)) at d 1 and 21 (weaning) and saline (P(-)). Within each litter of 12 piglets, 3 P(+) and 3 P(-) piglets were studied for growth and Hcy metabolism, and the others were studied for immune responses. During lactation, plasma B12 decreased and was transiently greater in S(+) vs. S(-) piglets on d 1 and P(+) vs. P(-) piglets on d 7 (sow treatment × age and piglet treatment × age; P < 0.05). From 14 to 21 d of age, pHcy was 33% lower in S(+)P(+) vs. S(-)P(-) piglets (sow treatment × piglet treatment interaction; P < 0.05). At 56 d of age, hepatic B12 was greater and pHcy was lower for P(+) vs. P(-) piglets (P < 0.05). No treatment effect was observed on growth except for a lower postweaning G:F in S(+)P(-) piglets than in others (sow treatment × piglet treatment interaction; P < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed between pHcy and growth (r > 0.29, P < 0.05) before and after weaning. Antibody responses to ovalbumin and serum tumor necrosis factor-α were not affected by treatments, but postweaning serum IL-8 peaked earlier in S(-)P(-) vs. S(+)P(+) piglets (piglet treatment × age; sow treatment × piglet treatment interaction, P < 0.05). Proliferation of lymphocytes in response to the mitogen concanavalin A tended to be lower in culture media supplemented with sera from S(-) vs. S(+) piglets (P = 0.081) and P(-) vs. P(+) piglets (P = 0.098), and the reduction of response was more marked (P < 0.05) with high (>21 µM) compared to medium (17 to 21 µM) or low (<17 µM) pHcy. In conclusion, the present vitamin supplements to sows and/or piglets produced variations of pHcy that were not apparently harmful for growth performance of piglets. The greater pHcy, particularly prevalent in S(-) and/or P(-) piglets, had negative effects on some indicators of immune responses, suggesting that these young animals may be immunologically more fragile.

Methyl donor supplementation of gestating sow diets improves pregnancy outcomes and litter size

Maternal intake of B-vitamin and methyl donors can affect sow prolificacy. A total of 1079 Large White/Landrace sows (parities 2–9 at mating) were used in a 2 by 2 by 2 factorial design to determine the effects of two levels of betaine supplementation (0 versus 3 g added betaine/kg feed), two levels of folic acid plus vitamin B12 supplementation (0 versus 20 mg/kg folic acid plus 150 µg/kg vitamin B12) during gestation, and two parity groups (parity 2 and 3 versus parity 4 and greater) on litter size and pregnancy outcomes. The number of sows returning to oestrus post-insemination, as well as the number of early (<Day 30) and late (>Day 30) pregnancy losses were recorded. At farrowing, the total number of piglets born, the number of piglets born alive and dead, as well as the number of mummified fetuses were recorded. Pre-prandial blood samples were collected from a subset of 20 sows/treatment on Days 3, 30 and 107 of gestation to analyse homocysteine. The incidence of early pregnancy loss was reduced (P < 0.001) by folic acid plus vitamin B12 supplementation (0.03 versus 0.07). There was a significant interaction between parity at mating (parities 2 and 3 versus parity 4 and greater) and the addition of betaine or folic acid plus vitamin B12 to the gestation diet on litter size. Litter size was higher (0.5 piglets; P < 0.05) for betaine supplemented, compared with unsupplemented, parity 4 plus sows. Folic acid plus vitamin B12-supplemented parity 2 and 3 sows gave birth to more (P < 0.05) piglets than all other treatment groups. Folic acid plus vitamin B12 supplementation decreased (P < 0.001) plasma homocysteine concentration by 2.2 and 2.8 μM, respectively, on Days 3 and 107 of gestation. However, betaine supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) homocysteine on Day 3 only. Overall, folic acid plus vitamin B12 supplementation decreased incidences of early pregnancy failure and increased litter size in early parity sows, while betaine increased litter size in older parity sows.

Effects of concentrations of cyanocobalamin in the gestation diet on some criteria of vitamin B12 metabolism in first-parity sows1,2

In swine nutrition, little is known about the role of vitamin B(12) in the reproductive processes. The current study was undertaken to obtain information on the dose-response pattern of different metabolic criteria related to the homeostasis of vitamin B(12) and homocysteine in gestating sows receiving various concentrations of dietary vitamin B(12) (cyanocobalamin). Homocysteine is a detrimental intermediate metabolite of the vitamin B(12)-dependent remethylation pathway of Met. Forty nulliparous (Large White x Landrace) sows were randomly assigned during gestation to dietary treatments containing 5 concentrations of cyanocobalamin (0, 20, 100, 200, or 400 microg/kg). During lactation, a diet containing 25 microg of cyanocobalamin/kg (as-fed) was given to all sows. During gestation, plasma vitamin B(12) increased as concentrations of dietary cyanocobalamin increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01) and the effect persisted during lactation (21 d postpartum) both in plasma (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) and the liver (linear and quadratic, P < 0.04). Plasma homocysteine decreased with concentrations of cyanocobalamin provided to sows during gestation (linear, quadratic, and cubic, P < 0.01). At parturition, vitamin B(12) in colostrum increased as concentrations of cyanocobalamin increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01), but the treatment effect persisted (linear, P = 0.01) only up to 1 d postfarrowing. However, in piglets there was no treatment effect (P = 0.59) on plasma vitamin B(12) before colostrum intake, but a linear effect of concentrations of cyanocobalamin (P = 0.04) was observed 1 d later. Plasma homocysteine in piglets during lactation decreased with increasing concentrations of cyanocobalamin given to sows in gestation (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01). Based on a broken-line regression model, the concentrations of dietary cyanocobalamin that maximized plasma vitamin B(12) and minimized plasma homocysteine of sows during gestation were estimated to be 164 and 93 microg/kg, respectively. The maximal residual responses in sows and piglets during lactation were observed with treatments of 100 or 200 microg of cyanocobalamin/kg. The dietary cyanocobalamin concentration necessary to optimize the response of these metabolic criteria remains to be refined within lower and narrower ranges of cyanocobalamin concentrations (i.e., <200 mg/kg). Moreover, the biological significance of such concentrations of cyanocobalamin needs to be validated with performance criteria by using greater numbers of animals during several parities.