Effect of vitamin E supplementation on immune status and alpha-tocopherol in plasma of piglets

Twelve (Yorkshire) gilts were assigned to 2 dietary fat supplement groups starting at 57 d of gestation. Group 1 received no fat and Group 2 was supplemented with 5% Canola oil. Each group was supplemented with 0.1 ppm Se and 22 IU of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate/kg of feed. Colostrum (d 0) and milk (7, 14, 21 and 28 d post partum) were sampled from gilts. At farrowing 3 piglets from each gilt of both groups were injected with alpha-tocopherol at birth (500 IU) and at 7 and 14 d (1,000 IU) of age and 3 piglets were injected with saline and used as control. Blood samples were taken from the newborn piglets at birth and at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 d of age. alpha-Tocopherol concentration in the colostrum of gilts was significantly higher than in the milk. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations and antibody titres to Key-hole limpet haemocyanin of piglets injected with vitamin E were significantly higher than the control piglets. Vitamin E injected piglets had significantly higher alpha-tocopherol concentrations in spleen, liver, kidney, heart, lung and hip muscle than the control piglets.