[Effects of dietary linoleic acid on lipogenesis enzyme activity in adipose tissue in the pig]

The effect of dietary linoleic acid on lipogenesis was determined on 36 Large White castrated male pigs fed between 35 and 100 kg liveweight diets containing 4% of total lipids including 3 levels of linoleic acid 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5%. The elevation in dietary linoleic acid increases the carcass fatness (P < 0.01). At slaughter, linoleic acid content in the backfat increases with the level of dietary linoleic acid (P < 0.001). The lipogenesis measured by the activities of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase increases significantly in adipose tissues (backfat and lean fat) with the dietary linoleic supply, whereas no effect was noticed in intramuscular fat. The increase in fat synthesis can explain the higher increase in carcass fatness of pigs fed diets containing high levels of linoleic acid.