Vitamin B₆ (B₆) has a central role in the metabolism of amino acids, which includes important interactions with endogenous redox reactions through its effects on the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) system. In fact, B₆-dependent enzymes catalyse most reactions of the transsulfuration pathway, driving homocysteine to cysteine and further into GPX proteins. Considering that mammals metabolize sulfur- and seleno-amino acids similarly, B₆ plays an important role in the fate of sulfur-homocysteine and its seleno counterpart between transsulfuration and one-carbon metabolism, especially under oxidative stress conditions. This is particularly important in reproduction because ovarian metabolism may generate an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the peri-estrus period, which may impair ovulatory functions and early embryo development. Later in gestation, placentation raises embryo oxygen tension and may induce a higher expression of ROS markers and eventually embryo losses. Interestingly, the metabolic accumulation of ROS up-regulates the flow of one-carbon units to transsulfuration and down-regulates remethylation. However, in embryos, the transsulfuration pathway is not functional, making the understanding of the interplay between these two pathways particularly crucial. In this review, the importance of the maternal metabolic status of B₆ for the flow of one-carbon units towards both maternal and embryonic GPX systems is discussed. Additionally, B₆ effects on GPX activity and gene expression in dams, as well as embryo development, are presented in a pig model under different oxidative stress conditions.

This study compared different dietary zinc oxide (ZnO) levels on zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) metabolism in weaned pigs. One hundred twenty weaned piglets (7.96 ± 1.17 kg; 21 d of age) were used in a completely randomized 3 × 4 factorial design composed with three levels of dietary ZnO at 100 (100Zn), 1,000 (1,000Zn), or 3,000 mg/kg (3,000Zn) and four ages at slaughter at 21 (day 21), 23 (day 23), 35 (day 35), and 42 d (day 42). Dietary Cu levels were constant at 130 mg/kg. Serum, jejunum, liver, and kidney levels of Zn and Cu as well as mRNA abundance of genes related to Zn and Cu metabolism were analyzed. Zinc levels were greatest in 3,000Zn piglets from day 35 in all tissues (P ≤ 0.01). In 3,000Zn piglets, mRNA expression of ZIP4 was reduced in jejunum whereas ZnT1 and MT3 were stimulated in jejunum and liver and MT1 in kidney (P ≤ 0.04) from day 35. Copper levels were greatest in jejunum (P = 0.06) and kidney (P ≤ 0.01; days 35 and 42 only) and lowest in liver and serum (P ≤ 0.01) of 3,000Zn piglets. In conclusion, the treatment containing 3,000 mg ZnO/kg triggered Zn homeostatic mechanisms in weaned pigs and impaired Cu metabolism through high enterocyte and kidney Cu sequestration. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is commonly used in post-weaning pig diets as growth promoter alternative to antibiotics to prevent diarrhea. The use of supranutritional levels of ZnO in post-weaning pigs diets has been challenged due to environmental issues and concerns related to bacterial resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals. However, the limited knowledge of the consequences of high levels of dietary ZnO on the metabolism of trace minerals has hampered advances to replace this nutritional strategy without compromising piglets health. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of dietary ZnO (i.e., 100, 1,000, and 3,000 mg/kg) on Zn and Cu metabolism in weaned piglets. In this experiment, it was demonstrated that systemic Zn levels were not effectively regulated with supplementation levels at 3,000 mg of ZnO/kg of diet. In addition, this level of dietary ZnO increased the intestinal intracellular sequestration of Cu and impaired its renal reabsorption, negatively impacting hepatic, and systemic serum Cu concentrations. These results emphasize the potential risk of Cu deficiency under long-term supranutritional supplementation of dietary ZnO during the post-weaning period, with potentially detrimental impacts on piglets growth.

The present study compares the bioavailability of vitamin B₁₂ (B₁₂) of dairy products or synthetic B₁₂, using the pig as an experimental model for humans. Eleven pigs were used in a cross-over design to assess the net portal drained viscera (PDV) flux of blood plasma B₁₂ after ingestion of tofu (TF; devoid of B₁₂), Swiss cheese (SC), Cheddar cheese (CC), yogurt (YG), and synthetic B₁₂ (TB₁₂; TF supplemented with cyanocobalamin), providing a total of 25 µg of B₁₂ each. PDV blood plasma flow for SC and CC were higher than for TF and TB₁₂ (p ≤ 0.04) whereas YG was higher than TF (p = 0.05). Porto-arterial difference of blood plasma B₁₂ concentrations were higher for CC and TB₁₂ than for TF and YG (p ≤ 0.04) but not different from SC (p ≥ 0.15). Net PDV flux of B₁₂ was only different from zero for CC. However, the net PDV flux of B₁₂ for CC was not different from SC or TB₁₂. Cumulative net PDV flux of B₁₂ for SC, TB₁₂, and CC were 2.9, 4.4, and 8.3 µg 23 h post-meal, corresponding to a bioavailability of 11.6%, 17.5%, and 33.0%, respectively. In conclusion, CC had the best bioavailability of B₁₂ among the tested dairy products or compared to synthetic B₁₂.