Effect of infant formuLas on blood and tissue cholesterol, bone calcium, and body composition in weanling pigs.

: Weanling pigs were fed four commercial infant formulas to determine effects on blood and tissue cholesterol parameters and on body composition. Two milk protein (MP)-based formulas and two soy protein isolate (SPI)-based isocaloric formulas were fed in concentrated liquid form for 32 days. A commercial sow's milk replacer fed to a fifty group of pigs served as a control diet. Pigs fed SPI-based formula had significantly less cholesterol in the plasma than did pigs fed MP-based formula. Whole-body and adipose tissue cholesterol concentrations were greatest in pigs fed formulas containing a relatively high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Liver cholesterol concentration was inversely related to plasma cholesterol concentrations. Bone calcium, measured as percentage of dry, fat-free bone (femur), and whole-carcass ash were significantly less in pigs fed SPI-based formula than in pigs fed MP-based formula. Similar growth and development were observed in pigs fed SPI-based or MP-based formulas; however, pigs fed SPI-based formulas had significantly less bone calcium.