Limits of medium-chain and long-chain triacylglycerol utilization by neonatal piglets

Fifteen unsuckled neonatal piglets from three litters were fasted for 2 h after birth then allotted within litter to a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments and given by stomach tube 2.36, 4.91 or 11.32 g of either (1-14C)-triolein or (1-14C)-trioctanoin/BW (kg).75. The hourly 14CO2 production was measured for 12 h for estimating the oxidation rate of dosed triacylglycerols. The contents of each segment of the digestive tract were collected for 14C and lipid analyses for calculating absorption of the dosed triacylglycerols. Grams of trioctanoin absorbed (P less than .01) and oxidized (P less than .001) by piglets were higher than grams of triolein. The maximum amounts of trioctanoin and triolein absorbed in 12 h were 2.77 +/- .29 and 1.83 +/- .36 g/BW (kg).75, respectively. The maximum amounts of trioctanoin and triolein oxidized in 12 h were 1.60 +/- .14 and .33 +/- .17 g/BW (kg).75, respectively. The maximum amounts of trioctanoin and triolein oxidization during 1-h periods were .231 +/- .017 and .049 +/- .021 g/BW (kg).75, respectively. The calculated maximum percentage of piglets' daily maintenance energy needs supplied by trioctanoin oxidation was 42.0%, compared with 10.6% from triolein. The maximum utilization of trioctanoin occurred at the intermediate dose. Results indicated that trioctanoin was used more effectively than triolein; it may be useful as a source of supplemental energy to improve the survival of piglets. A single dose should provide about 6 g/body wt (kg).75.