Effects of SOD-rich melon on inflammation, oxidative status and performance of challenged piglets

The effects of a SOD-rich melon supplement (Melofeed®, Lallemand, France) were evaluated on in ammation, oxidative status and performance of challenged piglets. Forty-eight 24d-old piglets were individually allocated to 2 treatments for 29 days: (1) basal diet (C); (2) C plus Melofeed® (T; 30 g/ ton of complete feed). From day 19 half of the animals were subjected (+) or not (-) to intramuscular injections of increasing dosage of LPS (Escherichia coli serotype 055:B5). Performances were evaluated weekly and blood samples collected on day 0, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29 for total antioxidant activity (TAOC), SOD, ROS, haptoglobin, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. On day 19, 25 and 29 kit radicaux libres and 8-hydroxy-2’deoxyguanosine were evaluated. Performance were analysed by a GLM procedure of SAS using pre-challenge period as covariate. Antioxidant parameters and interleukins were analysed by a MIXED procedure for repeated measurements. The piglet was the experimental unit as random effect nested with the treatment × challenge effect. LPS affected growing performance (P<0.01), proin ammatory cytokines (P<0.01) and haptoglobin (P=0.03), while Melofeed® increased body weight, gain, ADG (P=0.05), and feed intake (P<0.01) during challenge. TAOC was higher in T (P<0.01) with a tendency over – and + piglets (P=0.08). A signi cant improvement of red blood cells resistance to haemolysis was observed in T (P≤0.01). These results suggest that Melofeed® in the diet of post weaning piglets might increase total antioxidant activity and growth performance during the LPS challenge period.