Low birth weight and reduced postnatal nutrition lead to cardiac dysfunction in piglets
Ashley C McPeek1,2, Breanna Patton3, Daniel A Columbus4,5
1Department of Kinesiology Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Insights
Low birth weight (LBW) and postnatal restricted nutrition (RN) impact piglet cardiac function. While restricted nutrition effects were reversible with refeeding, LBW led to lasting cardiac dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Developmental Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Heart disease is a leading cause of mortality.
- Early life growth restriction is linked to increased adult heart disease risk.
- Neonatal cardiac function can be affected by birth weight and nutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of low birth weight (LBW) and postnatal restricted nutrition (RN) on cardiac function in neonatal pigs.
- To determine if cardiac dysfunction induced by LBW or RN is reversible with refeeding.
- To establish a porcine model for studying early life influences on cardiovascular health.
Main Methods:
- Pigs were categorized by birth weight (LBW <1.5 kg vs. normal birth weight NBW >1.5 kg).
- Nutritional status was manipulated through restricted nutrition (RN) via intermittent suckling or normal nutrition (NN) for 4 weeks.
- Cardiovascular assessments including echocardiography, vascular ultrasound, and blood pressure measurements were conducted at 28 and 56 days of age.
Main Results:
- Postnatal restricted nutrition (RN) pigs showed reduced diastolic blood pressure and passive ventricular filling at 28 days, which normalized after refeeding.
- Low birth weight (LBW) piglets exhibited reduced cardiac output index and ventricular wall thickness at 56 days.
- Sex differences were analyzed, but specific results were not detailed in the abstract.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac dysfunction resulting from postnatal nutritional restriction is reversible with adequate refeeding.
- Low birth weight appears to program irreversible cardiac dysfunction in neonatal pigs, persisting despite adequate nutrition post-weaning.
- This study highlights the long-term cardiovascular consequences of early life growth deficits.
Abstract:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in humans and evidence suggests early life growth-restriction increases heart disease risk in adulthood. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the effects of low birth weight (LBW) and postnatal restricted nutrition (RN) on cardiac function in neonatal pigs. We hypothesized that LBW and RN would reduce cardiac function in pigs but this effect would be reversed with refeeding. To investigate this hypothesis, pigs born weighing <1.5 kg were assigned LBW, and pigs born >1.5 kg were assigned normal birth weight (NBW). Half the LBW and NBW pigs underwent ~25% total nutrient restriction via intermittent suckling (assigned RN) for the first 4 wk post-farrowing. The other half of piglets were allowed unrestricted suckling access to the sow (assigned NN). At 28 d of age (weaning), pigs were weaned and provided ad libitum access to a standard diet. Echocardiographic, vascular ultrasound, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed on day 28 and again on day 56 to assess cardiovascular structure and function. A full factorial three-way ANOVA (NN vs. RN, LBW vs. NBW, male vs. female) was performed. Key findings include reduced diastolic BP (P = 0.0401) and passive ventricular filling (P = 0.0062) in RN pigs at 28 d but this was reversed after refeeding. LBW piglets have reduced cardiac output index (P = 0.0037) and diastolic and systolic wall thickness (P = 0.0293 and P = 0.0472) at 56 d. Therefore, cardiac dysfunction from RN is recovered with adequate refeeding while LBW programs irreversible cardiac dysfunction despite proper refeeding in neonatal pigs.
