Effects of Maternal Clofibrate Supplementation During Gestation and Lactation on Intestinal Fatty Acid Oxidation of Suckling Piglets

To accelerate maturation of intestinal function and promote growth and development, the effect of maternal clofibrate on intestinal fatty acid metabolism was investigated in postnatal piglets. 27 pregnant sows were fed either 0, 0.25, or 0.5% clofibrate during late gestation and early lactation. [1-14C]-Oleic acid metabolism was measured in vitro in intestinal mucosa of piglets with/without L-carnitine and/or malonate. Clofibrate increased oleic acid metabolism on d1, and the increase was higher from 0.5 than 0.25% of maternal clofibrate (p < 0.005). Flux to CO2 increased with age while flux to acid soluble products (ASP) remained constant after d1. Flux to esterified products (ESP) increased on d7, but the increase was dampened by clofibrate (p < 0.0001). Carnitine increased flux to CO2 and malonate decreased it (p < 0.0001), but neither affected ASP or ESP. Intestinal NEFA and TG levels decreased linearly, and CPT activity increased quadratically with age. Clofibrate increased ACOX abundance but decreased the ratio of CPT1A and CPT1B on d1. Postnatal age increased FABP2 but decreased PPARα and RXRα. In conclusion, maternal supplementation of clofibrate promotes intestinal energy generation from fat oxidation in postnatal piglets, but the promotion is influenced by age, in which ACOX, FABP2 and CPT1 might play modulatory roles.