Evaluation of even- and odd-chain medium-chain triglycerides as energy sources for neonatal piglets

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5671131

Odle, J

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) were evaluated as a supplemental energy source for the newborn piglet. In three experiments, piglets were force-fed 12 mi of MCT, varying in fatty acid (FA) composition. Blood fatty acid and ketone body concentrations peaked 1-2 h after force feeding then returned to baseline by 4 h, illustrating rapid digestion, absorption and oxidation. Peak 3-OH-butyrate concentrations never exceeded 80 {mu}M which is dramatically lower than observed in rats (>2 mM). Improved clinical energy status was also documented by elevated blood glucose concentration and lower nitrogen excretion than observed in fasted controls. Piglets showed an improvement in ability to utilize MCT between 6 and 18 h of age based on a two fold increase in blood concentration of FA and 3-OH-butyrate but no further change between 18 and 48 h. Peak plasma FA concentration decreased progressively as triglyceride-FA chain length increased from C7 (2.1 mM) to C10 (0.4 mM). In two subsequent experiments, hepatocyte metabolism of FA was studied. Hepatocytes oxidized (1-{sup 14}C)- C7 or C9 (1 mM) greater than 40% faster and consumed oxygen 7% faster than cells given C8 or C10. L-carnitine (1 mM) was without effect. Theoretical calculations from FA flux accounted for 95-140% of observed O{sub 2} consumption, indicating the FA were the major fuel source for the cells. Hepatocytes from 2 d pigs oxidized FA 48% faster than cells from 6 h pigs, but this was likely due to an increased metabolic rate observed in the older animals. No differences were detected in ability of small (700-950 g) pigs to oxidize FA relative to large (1,050-1,800 g) littermates. In a final in vivo experiment, pigs were continuously infused with 10 {mu}Ci of (1-{sup 14}C)-C7,C8, C9 or C10 via a catheter passed through the umbilical artery to the heart at a rate of 20, 50 or 100 mole FA/min for 5 h.

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5671131
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CARNITINE
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ESTERS
EVALUATION
HYDROXY ACIDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
LIVER CELLS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
NEONATES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SOMATIC CELLS
SWINE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRIGLYCERIDES
VERTEBRATES
VITAMIN B GROUP
VITAMINS