Effects of dietary lecithin and l-carnitine on fatty acid composition and lipid-metabolic genes expression in subcutaneous fat and longissimus thoracis of growing-finishing pigs

Meat Sci. 2018 Feb:136:68-78. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.10.012. Epub 2017 Oct 19.

Abstract

A 2×2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lecithin and l-carnitine on fatty acid composition and lipid-metabolic genes expression in subcutaneous fat and longissimus thoracis of growing-finishing pigs. 160 barrows were assigned to 4 treatments consisting of 8 replicates with 5 pigs in each. The total PUFA, C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3 in subcutaneous fat were increased by lecithin but the effect of lecithin was dependent of l-carnitine where supplementation of lecithin together with l-carnitine decreased total PUFA, C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3. l-Carnitine increased the intramuscular fat content when supplemented with lecithin but no effect was observed without lecithin supplementation. l-Carnitine increased the mRNA expression of CPT1A, HSL, FABP4 and CRAT; and reduced the mRNA expression of FAS and ACCα in subcutaneous fat. Lecithin increased the mRNA expression of ACCα and ME1 in longissimus thoracis. l-Carnitine increased the mRNA expression of FAS in longissimus thoracis when supplemented with lecithin but no effect was observed without lecithin supplementation.

Keywords: Fatty acid composition; Lecithin; Lipid-metabolic gene expression; Meat quality; l-Carnitine.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animals
  • Carnitine / pharmacology*
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Fatty Acids / analysis*
  • Gene Expression
  • Lecithins / pharmacology*
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics*
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Red Meat / analysis
  • Subcutaneous Fat / drug effects
  • Subcutaneous Fat / metabolism
  • Sus scrofa

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Lecithins
  • Carnitine