Lycopene affects the immune responses of finishing pigs

• Published in: Italian journal of animal science Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 666 - 674
• Main Authors: Fachinello, Marcelise Regina, Fernandes, Nelson Luis Mello, de Souto, Eliezer Rodrigues, dos Santos, Tatiana Carlesso, da Costa, Alcides Emanuel Rodrigues, Pozza, Paulo Cesar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bologna Taylor & Francis 03-07-2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: carotenoids; Diet; Dietary supplements; Hematocrit; Hogs; IgG; Immune response (humoral); Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulins; leukocytes; Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Lycopene; Lymphocytes; Neutrophils; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 1828-051X; 1594-4077; 1828-051X
• DOI: 10.1080/1828051X.2017.1401438

The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary lycopene levels on the immune responses of finishing pigs. Forty barrows and 40 gilts, averaging 75.04 ± 1.6 kg of initial weight, were allotted in a randomised blocks design arranged in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, consisting of two sexes (males and females) and five lycopene levels (0, 12.5, 25.0, 37.5, 50.0 mg/kg of diet). The studied parameters were submitted to the statistical analysis adopting 5% significance. Increasing lycopene in pig diets increased the plasma albumin (p = .023). There was no interaction (p > .05) between sex and lycopene on the leukocyte profile or haematocrit concentration. As lycopene levels increased in the diet, the lymphocyte concentration increased linearly (p = .045). The neutrophil concentration and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were affected (p < .05) by dietary lycopene levels, showing a lower neutrophils concentration at 17.49 mg lycopene/kg of diet, and the lowest neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was observed at 16.46 mg/kg. Eosinophils were also affected (p = .050) by lycopene supplementation, estimating the greater response by adding 22.69 mg lycopene/kg of diet. There was an interaction (p = .011) between the blood collection period and lycopene levels for anti-BSA IgG, resulting in higher production of anti-BSA IgG with the supplementation of up to 20.06 mg of lycopene/kg of diet. Dietary lycopene supplementation for finishing pigs affected the cellular and humoral immune response, and the highest anti-BSA IgG production was achieved by supplementing 20.06 mg lycopene/kg of diet.