Dietary phospholipid alters biliary lipid composition in formula-fed piglets

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Lipid Metabolism
• Infant Nutrition

Background:

• Breast-fed infants exhibit higher plasma levels of cholesterol, arachidonic acid (AA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) compared to formula-fed infants.
• Egg phospholipids are a source of AA and DHA, crucial fatty acids for infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of supplementing infant formula with cholesterol and egg phospholipid-derived AA and DHA on plasma, hepatic, and bile lipids.
• To assess changes in hepatic protein expression related to sterol metabolism.

Main Methods:

• Three groups of piglets were fed: formula with cholesterol, formula with cholesterol and egg phospholipid (providing AA and DHA), and sow milk.
• Plasma, hepatic, and bile lipid profiles, phospholipid fatty acid composition, and gene expression of key metabolic enzymes were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Formula supplemented with egg phospholipid AA and DHA increased plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and bile acid and phospholipid concentrations.
• Liver and bile phospholipid levels of AA and DHA were significantly higher in piglets fed supplemented formula.
• While hepatic enzyme mRNA levels (HMG-CoA reductase, 7-alpha-hydroxylase) were not different between supplemented and unsupplemented formula groups, they were higher than in the sow milk group.

Conclusions:

• Supplementing infant formula with AA and DHA from egg phospholipids positively alters bile metabolism.
• This supplementation increases the concentration of AA, DHA, bile acids, and phospholipids in bile, supporting infant lipid homeostasis.