Browsing by Author "Óvilo, Cristina"

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Differential effects of litter size and within-litter birthweight on postnatal traits of fatty pigs
(2020) Vázquez Gómez, Marta; García Contreras, Consolacion; Pesántez Pacheco, José Luis; Torres Rovira, Laura; Heras Molina, Ana; Astiz, Susana; Óvilo, Cristina; Redondo, Beatriz Isabel; Gonzalez Bulnes, Antonio
The current work evaluated the relative effects of the number of piglets in the litter of origin (high vs. low litter size) and the birthweight (low (LBW) vs. normal (NBW) in large litters) on postnatal performance and quality of carcasses and meat in purebred Iberian pigs. The results indicated that NBW piglets born in large litters had disparities in developmental patterns in weight and size, back-fat deposition, and fatty acid composition of viscerae compared to NBW piglets from small litters, which again were different from those found in LBW piglets when compared to their NBW counterparts. However, both growth patterns were altered and might indicate previous phases of metabolic disorders.
Maternal supplementation with polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy: effects on growth, metabolism, and body composition of the offspring
(2020) Heras Molina, Ana; Pesántez Pacheco, José Luis; Astiz, Susana; García Contreras, Consolacion; Vázquez Gómez, Marta; Encinas, María Teresa; Óvilo, Cristina; Isabel, Beatriz; Gonzalez Bulnes, Antonio
Maternal supplementation with antioxidants and n3 PUFAs may be a promising strategy to reduce the risk of intrauterine growth restriction and preterm delivery, which may diminish the appearance of low-birth-weight neonates. The present study aimed to determine benefits and risks of a dietary supplementation combining hydroxytyrosol, a polyphenol from olive leaves and fruits, and n3 PUFAs, from linseed oil, on developmental patterns and metabolic traits of offspring in swine, a model of IUGR pregnancies. The results obtained indicate that maternal supplementation with hydroxytyrosol and n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy has no deleterious effects on the reproductive traits of the sows (prolificacy, homogeneity of the litter, and percentage of stillborns and low-birth-weight, LBW, piglets) and the postnatal features of the piglets (growth patterns, adiposity, and metabolic traits). Conversely, in spite of a lower mean weight and corpulence at birth, piglets from the supplemented sows showed higher average daily weight gain and fractional growth rate. Thus, at juvenile stages afterwards, the offspring from the treated group reached higher weight and corpulence, with increased muscle development and better lipidemic and fatty acid profiles, in spite of similar adiposity, than offspring in the control group. However, much caution and more research are still needed before practical recommendation and use in human pregnancies.
Maternal supplementation with polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy: prenatal effects on fetal fatty acid composition in the iberian pig
(2022) Escudero, Rosa ; Heras Molina, Ana; González Bulnes, Antonio; Óvilo, Cristina; Astiz, Susana; Vázquez Gómez, Marta; García Contreras, Consolación; Pesántez Pacheco, José Luis; Isabel, Beatriz
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) is a major problem in pig production and different strategies, mainly maternal supplementation with different agents, are currently being studied. The combination of hydroxytyrosol and n3-PUFA seems to be a promising treatment to counteract IUGR, since the combination may help improve n3-PUFA composition and lower the inflammatory status of IUGR piglets. The aim of the present study is to determine the effects of a maternal supplementation, from day 35 to day 100 of pregnancy, with linseed oil and hydroxytyrosol on the fetal FA composition. The results showed higher n3 levels, including eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic FA in the offspring from treated gilts, which showed lower n6-PUFA/n3-PUFA (n6/n3) ratios. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were also affected by treatment, especially in the muscle and brain. Thus, a maternal supplementation with linseed oil and hydroxytyrosol affected the fetal FA tissue composition, which could have implications in pig production due to the improvement of the piglets’ health status
Maternal supplementation with polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy: prenatal effects on growth and metabolism
(2021) Astiz, Susana ; García Contreras, Consolacion; Redondo, Beatriz Isabel; Óvilo, Cristina; Nuñez, Yolanda; Heras Molina, Ana; Pesántez Pacheco, José Luis; Vázquez Gómez, Marta; López García, Adrián; Gonzalez Bulnes, Antonio; Benitez, Rita
Maternal supplementation with antioxidants and n-3 PUFAs may be a promising strategy to reduce the risk of intrauterine growth restriction and preterm delivery, which may diminish the appearance of low-birth-neonates. A previous studies showed beneficial outcomes of the combination of hydroxytyrosol and linoleic acid, but there is no data of its prenatal effects. The present study aimed to determine the possible prenatal implications of such maternal supplementation at prenatal stages in swine, a model of IUGR pregnancies. Results showed effects on litter size, with treated sows having larger litters and, therefore, smaller fetuses. However, the brain/head weight ratio showed a positive effect of the treatment in development, as well as in some other major organs like lungs, spleen, or kidneys. On the other hand, treated piglets showed better glycemic and lipidemic profiles, which could explain postnatal effects. However, further research on the implications of the treatment on litter size and prenatal and postnatal development must be done before practical recommendation can be given.