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Acute enhanced liquid aspirin administration improves performance and intestinal function in nursery pigs
Sarah C Pearce1, Brian J Kerr1
1USDA-ARS Agroecosystems Management Research Unit, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Ames IA, 50011, USA.
Journal of Animal Science
|February 8, 2025
Summary
Enhanced liquid aspirin (ELA) improved body weight gain and showed no negative gastrointestinal effects in a pig model. This suggests ELA may be a safer alternative to traditional aspirin for pain and inflammation management.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a common NSAID for pain and inflammation but causes gastrointestinal issues.
- Enhanced liquid aspirin (ELA) is formulated for improved stability and potentially reduced GI side effects.
- The efficacy and safety of ELA in animal models require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of oral Enhanced Liquid Aspirin (ELA) in healthy weaning pigs.
- To assess ELA's impact on body weight gain and intestinal health markers.
- To determine if ELA mitigates the negative gastrointestinal effects associated with traditional aspirin.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 16 healthy weaning pigs, divided into two groups (n=8 per group).
- Daily oral gavage for 5 days with either saline (CON) or 2 mg/kg body weight ELA.
- Post-treatment measurements included body weight, intestinal villus height, and protein expression of Claudins (CLDN) 3 and 7.
Main Results:
- Pigs administered ELA showed significantly greater body weight gain (13.7%) compared to controls (8%; P < 0.05).
- A trend towards increased villus height (24%) was observed in ELA-treated pigs (P = 0.06).
- Significant increases in Claudins 3 and 7 protein expression were noted in ELA pigs (P < 0.05), alongside alterations in stem cell and immune gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced liquid aspirin (ELA) was well-tolerated in a pig model.
- ELA demonstrated preliminary improvements in body weight gain and intestinal integrity markers.
- No observable negative impacts on the gastrointestinal tract were detected, suggesting ELA's potential as a safer alternative.
