60. Impact of Sow’s Insulin Resistance on Reproductive and Litter Performance, and on the Colostrum Metabolomic Profile

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Abstract Gestational diabetes is characterized by hyperglycaemia first occurring during pregnancy. In sows, it has been associated with impaired feed intake, reduced milk yield, and decreased neonatal survival; however, available information remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether insulin resistance affects sow health, farrowing performance, litter parameters, and piglet health, as well as to explore its effect on colostrum metabolomic profile. Fifty-seven sows were blood-sampled one week before farrowing and classified as insulin resistant (Fructosamine ≥ to 278 µmol/L; F+, n = 30) or non-insulin resistant (Fructosamine < 278 µmol/L; F−, n = 27). Colostrum was sampled near parturition, and productive data were recorded during lactation. In piglets, body weight (BW) and mortality were measured on days 0, 3, 15, and 28, and blood samples were collected at weaning. Sow blood data were analysed using a linear model including group, parity, and batch as fixed factors; piglet blood data were analysed using a linear mixed-effects model with the same fixed factors and sow as a random effect. Colostrum metabolites were analysed using UHPLC-HRMS, and data were statistically evaluated through Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA). The importance of each metabolite for group discrimination was calculated using the Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) method, considering VIP > 1 as the significance threshold. MetaboAnalyst 6.0 was then employed to identify the most relevant metabolic pathways and to perform a metabolite set enrichment analysis based on discriminant metabolites. The insulin resistance did not affect the sows productive performance. White blood cells (WBC), monocytes (MONO) and red cell distribution width – coefficient (RDV-CV) of variation tended to be higher in F− sows (p = 0.09), while haemoglobin (HGB) and fructosamine (FRA) was or tended to be higher in F+ sows (p = 0.06; p < 0.001, respectively). In piglets, WBC tended to be higher in F + (p = 0.08), and mean platelet volume (MPV) tended to be higher in F − (p = 0.08). The OPLS-DA model revealed two distinct metabolic clusters between F+ and F− sows, with 72 metabolites showing a VIP score > 0.8. Insulin resistance mainly affects glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, alanine, and metabolism of aspartare, glutamate and tryptophan. The top 5 metabolites characterizing F+ group were: 3-Methoxytyrosine (VIP score 3,27), LysoPC(16:1(9Z)) (VIP score 3,20), Indole (VIP score 3,04), PC(o-22:0/18:3(6Z,9Z,12Z)) (VIP 1,95) and TG(18:2(9Z,12Z)/18:1(11Z)/o-18:0) (VIP 1,91). In conclusion, insulin resistance in sows appears to influence specific hematological parameters and alters colostrum metabolism. Although some effects on piglet blood profiles were observed, they cannot be conclusively attributed to the maternal metabolic status. These results suggest a metabolic shift from glucose to lipid utilization, in particular glycerophospholipids, as an energy source, accompanied by a potential pro-inflammatory state induced by insulin resistance.

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