The objectives of this research were to determine whether alterations in maternal retinol levels during pregnancy programme later foetal and neonatal retinol status and organ development and to determine whether lowered retinol during early or late pregnancy has a greater effect on later development. In addition, the study provided an opportunity to determine whether such dietary modifications affect pregnancy outcomes such as birth weight and within-litter variation in piglet size. The data found indicated that, in the experimental population of animals studied, modest reductions in vitamin A status reduced the incidence of low birth weight piglets and within-litter variability in birth weight pose the intriguing possibility that alterations in dietary retinol could be used to improve pregnancy outcome. This possibility warrants further examination in a larger study.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci