Agavins as prebiotic. Their influence on lipid metabolism of pigs

In order to evaluate the effects of agavins of Agave fourcroydes on indicators of lipid metabolism of growing pigs, pigs of YL x L35 breed and 33 d of age were used. The animals were randomly distributed into three treatments using a randomized block design, with eight replications per treatment and five pigs per pen. The treatments were standard diet and addition of agavins of Agave fourcroydes (0.25 % and 0.50 %) to the diet. Indicators of liveweight, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins and total lipids were determined. The use of agavins in the diet, with respect to control, achieved a decrease in serum cholesterol levels (P = 0.0172), which was related to the decrease in lowdensity lipoproteins (P = 0.0091) and to a decrease of total lipids (P = 0.0254). The groups treated with prebiotic did not have differences in the levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoproteins and liveweight of animals. The inclusion of agavins of Agave fourcroydes in the diet of pigs produced modifications in lipid metabolism, related to the decrease of total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins and total lipids. Key words: Agave fourcroydes, agavins, pigs, prebiotic, lipid metabolism