Effect of low-fat colostrum on fat accretion and lipogenic enzyme activities in adipose tissue in the 1-day-old pig.

Fat accretion, body fatty acid (FA) composition and adipose tissue lipogenic enzyme activities were determined in 1-day-old piglets fed during the first day of life sow colostrum that was either normal (control) or low in fat and high in lactose, galactose or glucose as the sole source of carbohydrate. Malic enzyme activity did not change during the first postnatal day while increases (P < 0.01) were found for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and acetyl-CoA-carboxylase. However, fat accretion was closely dependent on the amount of ingested fat and FA composition of piglets indicates a shift toward that of colostrum, the extent of which was dependent on the amount of ingested fat. Plasma glucose and insulin levels were the highest (P < 0.01) in piglets fed the colostrum high in glucose and plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels were the lowest (P < 0.01) in piglets fed the low-fat, high-carbohydrate colostra. Liver weight and glycogen concentration were higher (P < 0.01) in piglets fed the colostra low in fat and high in carbohydrate than in those on the control colostrum. It is suggested that synthesis of fatty acids from carbohydrate is negligible in the newborn pig even in the presence of high plasma insulin and low plasma FFA levels. The metabolic fate of carbohydrate is discussed.