Investigating the potential effects that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have on lipid metabolism in the piglet as a model for the human infant [electronic resource] /

by Mathews Oliver, Susan Ashley

MATHEWS OLIVER, SUSAN ASHLEY. Investigating the potential effects that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have on lipid metabolism in the piglet as a model for the human infant. (Under the direction of Dr. Robert J. Harrell and Dr. Jack Odle.) The essential fatty acids (EFA) linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid (LN) are necessary for growth and development. Tissues of the central nervous system and the retina depend on the conversion of LA to arachidonic acid (AA) and LN to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Research in human infants has indicated that supplementation of infant formulas with AA and DHA promotes visual and neural development. The objective of the first study was to determine the utilization as well as the safety and efficacy of two sources of LCPUFA. Piglets (n=10/group) had ad libitum access from day 1 to 16 of age to a skim milk-based formula with different fat sources added to provide 50% of the energy. Treatments included: control with no added LCPUFA (CNTL), single cell oil triglyceride (TG), TG with phospholipid and cholesterol added to match phospholipid content in the PL diet (TG+PL), egg phospholipid (PL), and an essential fatty acid deficient group (EFAD). Formulas with