Influence of betaine and arginine supplementation of reduced protein diets on fatty acid composition and gene expression in the muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of cross-bred pigs

Madeira, Marta S.; Rolo, Eva A.; Alfaia, Cristina M.; Pires, Virg�nia R.; Luxton, Richard; Doran, Olena; Bessa, RJB; Bessa, Rui J.B.; Prates, JAM; Prates, Jos� A.M.

Abstract

© The Authors 2016. The isolated or combined effects of betaine and arginine supplementation of reduced protein diets (RPD) on fat content, fatty acid composition and mRNA levels of genes controlling lipid metabolism in pig m. longissimus lumborum and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were assessed. The experiment was performed on forty intact male pigs (Duroc×Large White×Landrace cross-breed) with initial and final live weights of 60 and 93 kg, respectively. Pigs were randomly assigned to one of the following five diets (n 8): 16·0 % of crude protein (control), 13·0 % of crude protein (RPD), RPD supplemented with 0·33 % of betaine, RPD supplemented with 1·5 % of arginine and RPD supplemented with 0·33 % of betaine and 1·5 % of arginine. Data confirmed that RPD increase intramuscular fat (IMF) content and total fat content in SAT. The increased total fat content in SAT was accompanied by higher GLUT type 4, lipoprotein lipase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase mRNA expression levels. In addition, the supplementation of RPD with betaine and/or arginine did not affect either IMF or total fat in SAT. However, dietary betaine supplementation slightly affected fatty acid composition in both muscle and SAT. This effect was associated with an increase of carnitine O-acetyltransferase mRNA levels in SAT but not in muscle, which suggests that betaine might be involved in the differential regulation of some key genes of lipid metabolism in pig muscle and SAT. Although the arginine-supplemented diet decreased the mRNA expression level of PPARG in muscle and SAT, it did not influence fat content or fatty acid composition in any of these pig tissues.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 7, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jan 28, 2016
• Publication Date: Mar 28, 2016
• Journal: British Journal of Nutrition
• Print ISSN: 0007-1145
• Electronic ISSN: 1475-2662
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 115
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 937-950
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114515005218
• Keywords: betaine, arginine, reduced protein diets, lipid metabolism, intramuscular fat, fatty acid composition, pigs
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/921058
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114515005218