Effect of Maternal Dietary Redox Levels on Antioxidative Status and Immunity of the Suckling Off-Spring.

This study investigates two levels of dietary selenium (Se) and vitamin E in combination on their status in sows and their progeny, and influence on antioxidant status and immunological responses of the piglets at weaning. Female pigs ( = 6) were provided LOW or HIGH antioxidant nutrition (Se and vitamin E) from mating until weaning of their off-spring. The HIGH treatment elevated the concentration of Se ( = 0.015) and α-tocopherol ( = 0.023) in plasma of piglets compared with piglets of the LOW treatment. Treatments also affected the concentrations of milk and sow plasma immunoglobulins. Piglets from sows on the HIGH treatment had increased ( < 0.001) activity of glutathione peroxidase, lower serum levels of C-reactive protein ( = 0.005), haptoglobin ( = 0.05) and albumin ( = 0.05), and the number of white blood cells ( = 0.023) and the ratio of NEU to LYM was lower ( = 0.025) than in piglets from sows on the LOW group. Furthermore, the dietary antioxidant level influenced responses of cytokines (interleukine (IL) 6 ( = 0.007), 12 ( = 0.01) and 18 ( = 0.01)) in piglets' plasma. In conclusion, improved antioxidant status via dietary maternal provision improves the robustness of the offspring via immunomodulatory mechanisms.