Dietary L-carnitine increases plasma leptin concentrations of gestating sows fed one meal per day

Thirty-four sows (parity=1.8; BW=206 kg) were used to determine the influence of L-carnitine and/or chromium tripicolinate on plasma leptin concentrations of gestating sows fed one meal daily. Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial with main effects of carnitine (0 or 50 ppm) and chromium (0 or 200 ppb). Diets were fed for approximately 167 days (through one gestation, the following lactation, the interval from weaning to estrus, and 28 days into the following gestation) prior to blood collection. Leptin concentration was determined in plasma that was collected at feeding, every 15 min for the first 3h after feeding, and at 6, 9, 15, 20, and 24h after feeding. Sows fed diets containing carnitine had greater (P<0.02) overall mean plasma leptin concentrations and greater (P<0.05) leptin concentrations at 2.25, 3, 6, 15, 20, and 24h after feeding compared to sows fed either the control diet or the diet containing chromium. Leptin concentrations of sows fed diets containing carnitine also were greater (P<0.05) than control sows at 2.5 and 2.75 h postprandial and greater than (P<0.05) sows fed diets with both carnitine and chromium at 6h after feeding. Chromium had no effect (P>0.10) on plasma leptin concentration. These results suggest that dietary carnitine, but not chromium, increases circulating leptin in gestating sows fed one meal per day. These results may help to explain the improvements in reproductive function previously observed from feeding sows diets containing carnitine.