Effect of infant formuLas on blood and tissue cholesterol, bone calcium, and body composition in weanling pigs.

Weanling pigs were fed four commercial infant formulas to determine effects on blood and tissue cholesterol parameters and on body composition. Two milk protein (MP)-based formulas and two soy protein isolate (SPI)-based isocaloric formulas were fed in concentrated liquid form for 32 days. A commercial sow's milk replacer fed to a fifty group of pigs served as a control diet. Pigs fed SPI-based formula had significantly less cholesterol in the plasma than did pigs fed MP-based formula. Whole-body and adipose tissue cholesterol concentrations were greatest in pigs fed formulas containing a relatively high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Liver cholesterol concentration was inversely related to plasma cholesterol concentrations. Bone calcium, measured as percentage of dry, fat-free bone (femur), and whole-carcass ash were significantly less in pigs fed SPI-based formula than in pigs fed MP-based formula. Similar growth and development were observed in pigs fed SPI-based or MP-based formulas; however, pigs fed SPI-based formulas had significantly less bone calcium.