Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by vitamin D insufficiency owing to excessive urinary loss of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D]. We previously reported that a diet containing dried whole egg, a rich source of vitamin D, was effective at maintaining circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in rats with T2D. Furthermore, whole egg consumption reduced body weight gain in rats with T2D. This study was conducted to compare whole egg consumption with supplemental cholecalciferol with respect to vitamin D balance, weight gain, and body composition in rats with T2D. Male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats ( = 24) and their lean controls ( = 24) were obtained at 5 wk of age and randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: a casein-based diet (CAS), a dried whole egg-based diet (WE), or a casein-based diet containing supplemental cholecalciferol (CAS+D) at the same amount of cholecalciferol provided by WE (37.6 μg/kg diet). Rats were fed their respective diets for 8 wk. Weight gain and food intake were measured daily, circulating 25(OH)D concentrations were measured by ELISA, and body composition was analyzed by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Weight gain and percentage of body fat were reduced by ∼20% and 11%, respectively, in ZDF rats fed WE compared with ZDF rats fed CAS or CAS+D. ZDF rats fed CAS had 21% lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations than lean rats fed CAS. In ZDF rats, WE consumption increased serum 25(OH)D concentrations 130% compared with CAS, whereas consumption of CAS+D increased serum 25(OH)D concentrations 35% compared with CAS. Our data suggest that dietary consumption of whole eggs is more effective than supplemental cholecalciferol in maintaining circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in rats with T2D. Moreover, whole egg consumption attenuated weight gain and reduced percentage of body fat in ZDF rats. These data may support new dietary recommendations targeting the prevention of vitamin D insufficiency in T2D.

Background: Human milk contains both arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Supplementation of infant formula with ARA and DHA results in fatty acid (FA) profiles, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and immune responses in formula-fed infants that are more like those observed in breastfed infants. Consequently, ARA and DHA have been historically added together to infant formula. This study investigated the impact of ARA or DHA supplementation alone or in combination on tissue FA incorporation, immune responses, and neurodevelopment in the young pig.Methods: Male pigs (N = 48 total) received one of four dietary treatments from postnatal day (PND) 2-30. Treatments targeted the following ARA/DHA levels (% of total FA): CON (0.00/0.00), ARA (0.80/0.00), DHA (0.00/0.80), and ARA+DHA (0.80/0.80). Plasma, red blood cells (RBC), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were collected for FA analysis. Blood was collected for T cell immunophenotyping and to quantify a panel of immune outcomes. Myelin thickness in the corpus callosum was measured by transmission electron microscopy and pig movement was measured by actigraphy.Results: There were no differences in formula intake or growth between dietary groups. DHA supplementation increased brain DHA, but decreased ARA, compared with all other groups. ARA supplementation increased brain ARA compared with all other groups but did not affect brain DHA. Combined supplementation increased brain DHA levels but did not affect brain ARA levels compared with the control. Pigs fed ARA or ARA+DHA exhibited more activity than those fed CON or DHA. Diet-dependent differences in activity suggested pigs fed ARA had the lowest percent time asleep, while those fed DHA had the highest. No differences were observed for immune or myelination outcomes. Conclusion:Supplementation with ARA and DHA did not differentially affect immune responses, but ARA levels in RBC and PFC were reduced when DHA was provided without ARA. Supplementation of either ARA or DHA alone induced differences in Hahn et al.ARA and DHA Developmental Nutrition time spent asleep, and ARA inclusion increased general activity. Therefore, the current data support the combined supplementation with both ARA and DHA in infant formula and raise questions regarding the safety and nutritional suitability of ARA or DHA supplementation individually.

Arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4n6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n3) are polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) naturally present in breast milk and added to most North American infant formulas (IF). We investigated the safety and efficacy of novel sodium and potassium salts of arachidonic acid as bioequivalent to support tissue levels of ARA comparable to the parent oil; M. alpina oil (Na-ARA and K-ARA) and including a Na-DHA group. Pigs of both sexes were randomized to one of five dietary treatments (n = 16 per treatment; 8 male and 8 female) from postnatal day 2 to 23. ARA and DHA were included as either triglyceride (TG) or salt. Target dietary ARA/DHA concentrations as percent of total FA by weight were as follows: TT (0.47 TG/0.32 TG), NaT (0.47 Na-salt/0.32 TG), KT (0.47 K-salt/0.32 TG), and Na0 (0.47 Na-salt/0.00), NaNa (0.47 Na-salt/0.32 Na-salt). The primary outcome in this study was bioequivalence of ARA brain accretion. Growth performance; blood and tissue fatty acid levels; liver histology; complete blood cell counts; and serum chemistries were all evaluated. Overall, diets containing test sources of ARA and DHA did not affect growth performance; liver histology; or substantially influence hematological outcomes as compared with TT. The results confirm that the use of Na and K salt forms of ARA yield bioequivalent ARA accretion in the cerebral cortex and retinal tissue compared to TG-ARA. These findings confirm that use of Na-ARA and K-ARA salts in the young pig was safe and nutritionally bioequivalent to TG-ARA for critical neural tissues.

Objectives Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are conditionally essential fatty acids (FA) commonly supplemented in human infant formulas due to insufficient endogenous synthesis. Supplementation of these FA has been shown to yield FA profiles closer to those of a breastfed infant. The need for DHA supplementation in infant formula has been well-establish due to its positive influence on retinal and cognitive health. However, ARA supplementation recommendations have come under some scrutiny. This study aimed to use the neonatal piglet model to examine the impact of single and dual supplementation of ARA and DHA on tissue FA incorporation. Methods Forty-eight male pigs were provided one of four dietary treatments ad libitum (n = 12 per treatment) from postnatal day 2 to 30. Dietary treatments included the following target ARA and DHA levels expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids: Diet 1 – Control (devoid of ARA and DHA), Diet 2 – 0.8% ARA, Diet 3 – 0.8% DHA, Diet 4 – 0.8% ARA + 0.8% DHA. Growth and food intake were measured daily. Plasma, red blood cells (RBC), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were collected at study conclusion for FA analysis. Results There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between diet groups in food intake and overall growth. Pigs on diet 1 had lower (P < 0.001) ARA than those on diet 2 in the PFC, plasma, and RBC. Pigs on diet 3 had lower incorporation of ARA than those on diet 1 in the PFC (P < 0.001) and RBC (P = 0.03). Pigs on diet 4 had lower incorporation of ARA than those on diet 2 in the PFC (P < 0.001), plasma (P < 0.01), and RBC (P = 0.01). Pigs on diet 1 had lower (P < 0.001) DHA levels than those on diet 3 in the PFC, plasma, and RBC. There were no significant differences in DHA levels (P > 0.05) between diet 1 and diet 2 in PFC, plasma, or RBC. Pigs on diet 4 had lower incorporation (P < 0.01) of DHA than those on diet 3 in the PFC and plasma. Conclusions These results show that PFC, RBC, and plasma ARA and DHA levels are sensitive to dietary intake when compared to diets devoid of these fatty acids. Results also indicate that endogenous ARA levels in the PFC and RBC are reduced when only DHA supplementation is provided in the absence of dietary ARA, hence the supplementation of ARA when DHA is provided may be warranted for maintenance of ARA concentrations in these tissues. Funding Sources DSM Nutritional Products.