Metabolomic profiling of the small for gestational age piglet

Human infants born small for their gestational age (SGA), as associated with intrauterine growth restriction, are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality during early life and beyond. As an animal model, the domestic piglet ( Sus scrofa ) provides many benefits for studying developmental aspects of the SGA condition. Our objective was to assess global metabolomic profiles of SGA (≤ 0.9kg body weight) and average for gestational age (AGA, 1.3–1.5kg body weight) piglets. Piglets were selected in littermate pairs, weighed daily to assess growth rate, and blood was collected at 15–17 days of age; piglets remained with their mother throughout the study. Following stringent quality assurance procedures on multiple analytical platforms, a total of 323 named biochemicals were identified in plasma samples, with significant effects noted in metabolic pathways involving energy (i.e., TCA cycle), amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids. Most notably, de novo synthesis of nicotinamide derivatives was higher ( P < 0.05) in SGA piglets, suggesting a deficiency in cofactors important for energy metabolism and biosynthetic reactions. Moreover, changes in glucose metabolism suggested the ability to extract energy from dietary sources may have been compromised in the SGA piglet. We conclude that a significant reduction in the growth potential of SGA piglets is associated with perturbations in multiple metabolic pathways. ACES James Scholar Honors Program, College of ACES, University of Illinois, Urbana‐Champaign