Effect of pregnancy and lactation on the serum lipid profiles: cholesterol and triacylglycerol ratios of apparently healthy large white sows

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of pregnancy and lactation on the serum lipid profiles of large white (LW) sows. Twenty (20) sexually matured LW sows and three (3) LW boars, of mean weight 45.38±1.29 kg, aged between 8 and 10 months were used for this study. The sows were randomly assigned to five groups (A to E) of four sows per group in a completely randomized design (CRD). Group A: Non pregnant (control), Group B: Early gestation (38 days), Group C: Mid gestation (78 days), Group D: Late gestation (112 days) and Group E: Post gestation (14 days postpartum). Blood samples were collected during five stages of gestation. The mean total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations of group A (non-mated or control group) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than groups B and C. The mean total cholesterol:high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol:high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) ratios of the postpartum sows were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than group C. There were however no significant (p > 0.05) variations in the mean triacylglycerol (TAG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triacylglycerol:high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TAG/HDL-C) ratio and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) concentrations among all the groups. This present study has presented preliminary information on the changes of serum lipid profiles, cholesterol and triacylglycerol ratios during gestation in LW sows that can be sought by the scientific community