Dietary silymarin ameliorating reproductive and lactation performance of sows via regulating body antioxidant and metabolism

Effects of a Multi-Component Mycotoxin-Detoxifying Agent on Oxidative Stress, Health and Performance of Sows

“…Thus, curcumin and silymarin can be used as antioxidant feed additives to repair damage that may be caused by these mycotoxins [88]. Our results confirmed the findings of previous studies using silymarin as a dietary supplement in pregnant and lactating sows, which demonstrated its anti-inflammatory effects (increased antioxidant capacity and decreased oxidative stress) and positive effects on reproductive parameters and litter performance [56][57][58][59][60]. However, our study is the first field study with the use of curcumin in pregnant and lactating sows in diets contaminated with multiple mycotoxins, as previous studies have limitedly investigated the effects of curcumin on IUGR piglets [85][86][87]89].…”

“…It is extracted from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and consists of four main component isomers (silybin, isosilybin, silydianin and silychristin) [55]. Several studies have reported beneficial effects of silymarin supplementation in pregnant and lactating sows, such as anti-inflammatory effects (also associated with modulation of gut microbiota), increased antioxidant capacity of the sow and decreased oxidative stress, improved milk yield, reproductive and litter performance (e.g., increased sow colostrum/milk yield and feed intake, decreased body weight loss during lactation and heavier suckling and weaned piglets) [56][57][58][59][60].…”