Effects of dietary fat on neurodevelopmental outcomes in normal birth weight and intrauterine growth restricted piglets

Breast milk has shown neurodevelopmental advantages compared to infant formula, especially in IUGR infants, which may relate to the fat source. This study aimed to compare neurodevelopmental outcomes in normal birth weight (NBW) and intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) piglets fed a formula diet with either a vegetable oil (VEG) or bovine milk fat source (MILK). Results showed that total plasma lipids were increased by feeding the MILK diet. 82% and 11% of lipid species were differentially expressed between dietary groups in plasma and hippocampus, respectively, with slight agreement between the plasma and brain lipidome. The MILK diet was most effective in increasing brain lipid accretion, mainly comprising phospholipids. Absolute regional brain weights, grey and white matter volumes, and behavior and motor function scores were lower in IUGR piglets with no effects of diet. Cognitive function and gene expression profiles were similar for dietary and weight groups, and overall only minor interactive effects between diet and weight were observed. In conclusion, dietary fat source influenced the plasma and to a lesser degree the hippocampal lipidome, but was unable to improve on IUGR induced brain structural and functional impairments. Three-day old term born NBW and IUGR piglets were fed a VEG or MILK diet for 3 weeks in a 2×2 factorial study design. Behaviour, cognitive and motor functional tests were conducted from day 7-20. Plasma and brain tissue were collected for lipidomics, MRI and RNA sequencing.