Utilization of medium-chain triglycerides by neonatal pigs: effects of emulsification and dose delivered

Four trials were conducted using 86, 24-h-old pigs to evaluate the utilization of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Effects of emulsification and amount of MCT fed were examined. After a 4-h period during which feed was withheld, pigs were force-fed MCT (containing 75% octanoate and 25% decanoate), marking time 0 of the experiment. Blood samples were obtained at 1 and 2 h for subsequent medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) analysis. In Trials 1 (six pigs/treatment) and 2 (four pigs/treatment) the response to three emulsifying agents was compared to a nonemulsified (NE) control. Twenty milliliters of a 30% (vol/vol) emulsion of MCT or 6 mL of NE MCT was administered. Concentrations of MCFA at 1 h in pigs receiving a Tween 80 (polyoxy-ethylene [20] sorbitan monooleate) emulsion were 3- to 19-fold higher than concentrations in animals administered a gum arabic/gum tragacanth emulsion, a lecithin emulsion, or NE MCT. Trials 3 (eight pigs/treatment) and 4 (six pigs/treatment) were conducted to determine the plasma MCFA concentrations resulting from feeding increasing levels of NE (3, 6, 9, or 12 mL of MCT) or emulsified MCT oil (2, 4, 6, or 8 mL in a 30% Tween 80 emulsion). Plasma octanoate concentrations measured at 1 h increased linearly (P < .05) with increasing MCT dosage through 9 mL of NE and 6 mL of emulsified MCT. A transient narcosis was observed in 8 of 12 animals that received 6 or 8 mL of emulsified MCT and was most pronounced 1 to 2 h after feeding, which roughly corresponded to peak plasma MCFA concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)