Study of immune cells involved in the antitumor effect of kefir in a murine breast cancer model.

Administration of kefir and a kefir cell-free fraction (KF) to mice injected with breast tumor cells produced, locally in the mammary gland, different profiles of cells secreting cytokines. Here, the immune cell populations in mammary glands affected by the cyclic consumption of kefir or KF for 2 or 7 d were evaluated using a breast tumor model. Apoptosis was also assayed as another mechanism involved in tumor growth delay. The rate development of tumor cells, IgA(+) cells, and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was monitored in mammary gland tissues. The number of Bcl-2(+) cells in the mammary gland was compared with the apoptosis observed in the tumor. Two-day cyclical administration of both products delayed tumor growth and increased the number of IgA(+) cells in the mammary gland. Changes in the balance between CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the mammary gland were observed in mice from the group fed KF cyclically for 2 d, such that the number of CD4+ cells increased when the number of CD8+ cells remained constant. Mice that received 2-d cyclic administration of KF showed significant increases in the number of apoptotic cells and decreases in Bcl-2(+) cells in the mammary gland, compared with the tumor control group. The present study allows a better understanding of the mechanisms (immune and nonimmune) involved in the antitumor effect observed in mice administered kefir or KF. The importance of nonmicrobial components released during milk fermentation to obtain the beneficial antitumor effects is also reported.

Growth of probiotic bacteria and bifidobacteria in a soy yogurt formulation.

Soy beverage and cows' milk yogurts were produced with Steptococcus thermophilus (ATCC 4356) and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (IM 025). The drop in pH during fermentation was faster in the soy beverage than in cows' milk, but the final pH values were similar. Yogurts were prepared with a yogurt starter in conjunction with either the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC533 (La-1), Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 (GG) or human derived bifidobacteria. The presence of the probiotic bacteria did not affect the growth of the yogurt strains. Approximately 2 log increases in both L. rhamnosus GG and L. johnsonii La-1 were observed when each was added with the yogurt strains in both cows' milk and the soy beverage. Two of the five bifidobacteria strains grew well in the cows' milk and soy beverage during fermentation with the yogurt bacteria. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses showed that the probiotic bacteria and the bifidobacteria were using different sugars to support their growth, depending on whether the bacteria were growing in cows' milk or soy beverage.

Study of cytokines involved in the prevention of a murine experimental breast cancer by kefir.

Previous studies have shown that compounds released during milk fermentation by Lactobacillus helveticus are implicated in the antitumour effect of this product. Here the effects of the consumption, during 2 or 7 days, of kefir or kefir cell-free fraction (KF) on the systemic and local immune responses in mammary glands and tumours using a murine hormone-dependent breast cancer model were studied. In the tumour control group, mice did not receive these products. At the end of the feeding period, mice were injected subcutaneously with tumour cells in the mammary gland. Four days post-injection, they received kefir or KF on a cyclical basis. Rate of tumour development, cytokines in serum; mammary gland tissue, and tumour isolated cells were monitored. Two-day cyclical administration of both products delayed tumour growth. Both kefir and KF increased IL-10 in serum and decreased IL-6(+) cells (cytokine involved in oestrogen synthesis) in mammary glands. Two-day cyclical administration of KF increased IL-10(+) cells in mammary glands and in tumours and decreased IL-6(+) cells in tumour. This study demonstrated the modulatory capacity of KF on the immune response in mammary glands and tumours and the importance of the administration period to obtain this effect.

A dynamic model that simulates the human upper gastrointestinal tract for the study of probiotics.

A dynamic model of the human upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract was designed to better simulate conditions of ingestion and digestion, by including a food matrix as part of the model design. The dynamic model consisted of two reactors maintained at 37 degrees C, one simulating stomach conditions and the other simulating duodenum conditions. The model was tested by comparing survival of bacteria isolated from humans (Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus) animals (Bifidobacterium animalis, 2 strains), and fermented dairy products (Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus kefir, Lactobacillus kefirgranum, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides) with their survival as determined by conventional methods. Five strains were not able to survive (>3 log reduction) 15 min in a medium acidified at pH 2.0 using the conventional testing method, but survival was improved significantly for some strains in the dynamic model. Two strains (Bifidobacterium animalis ATCC 25527 and Lactobacillus johnsonii La-1 NCC 533) showed good survival with both methods. The dynamic model was shown to better represent the events during upper GI tract transit than the conventional methods, by incorporation of a food matrix to buffer the gastric acidity and therefore expose bacteria to pH levels found in vivo before, during, and after a meal.

Microentrapment of probiotic bacteria in a Ca(2+)-induced whey protein gel and effects on their viability in a dynamic gastro-intestinal model.

Entrapping probiotic bacteria in gels with ionic cross-linking is typically achieved with polysaccharides (alginate, pectin, carraghenan). In this study, whey proteins were used for this purpose by carrying out the Ca(2+)-induced gelation of pre-heated whey protein isolate (WPI). A Lactobacillus rhamnosus cell suspension was added in a denatured WPI solution in a 30 : 70 volume ratio. Gelation was carried out by extrusion of the cell suspension in a CaCl(2) solution. Beads of approximately 3 mm diameter were formed. The population in the beads was 8.0 x 10(8) cells g(-1). Entrapment efficiency in gel beads was 96%, with a survival level of 23%. Scanning electron microscopy of beads before freeze-drying showed a tight protein network containing encapsulated Lb. rhamnosus cells homogeneously distributed throughout the matrix. The survival to freeze-drying of the bead-entrapped cells was 41%. Viability of microentrapped cells in a dynamic gastro-intestinal (GI) model was studied and the results were compared to free cells freeze-dried in a milk-based cryoprotective solution, as well as in a pre-denatured WPI solution. Results showed that protein gelation provided protection against acidic conditions in the stomach after 90 min, as well as against bile after 30, 60 and 90 min in the duodenum. Moreover, the milk-based cryoprotective solution was equally effective after 90 min in the duodenum. It is concluded that the gelation of whey proteins induced by Ca(2+) ions can protect the cells against adverse conditions of the GI system. However, certain stages in the entrapment process, particularly extrusion in the solution of CaCl(2), still need to be optimized in order to reduce the mortality of the cells during gelation.

A review of latest research findings on the health promotion properties of tea.

Important progress has been made in the past five years concerning the effects of green and black tea on health. Experimentation with new accurate tools provide useful information about the metabolism of tea components in the body, their mode of action as antioxidants at the cellular level and their protective role in the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other pathologies. The use of tea components as nutraceuticals and functional foods are also discussed.

Antioxidant properties of crocin from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and study of the reactions of crocin with linoleic acid and crocin with oxygen.

Crocin-a water soluble carotenoid-is found in the fruits of gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) and in the stigmas of saffron (Crocus sativus Linne). For crocin purification, gardenia fruits are extracted with 50% acetone, followed by ether washing, ion exchange, and separation by preparative HPLC. Purified crocin with purity of >99.6% has an antioxidative activity at concentrations up to 40 ppm. At 20 ppm the antioxidative activity of crocin is comparable to that of BHA. The antioxidant property of crocin as evaluated by the thiocyanate method was better than with the thiobarbituric acid method. The adduct between the linoleic acid radical and crocin was detected by LC-MS. When crocin reacted with oxygen in the presence of FeSO(4), intermediates such as monohydroperoxides and dihydroperoxides of crocin were formed and detected by LC-MS.

Consumption of fermented and nonfermented dairy products: effects on cholesterol concentrations and metabolism.

The objective of this article was to review existing literature concerning the effects and mechanisms of action of fermented dairy products on serum cholesterol concentrations. Although not without exception, existing evidence from animal and human studies suggests a moderate cholesterol-lowering action of fermented dairy products. Mechanistically, fermented milk has been shown to cause an increase in human gut bacterial content. These bacteria, once resident in the large intestine, are believed to ferment food-derived indigestible carbohydrates. Such fermentation causes increased production of short-chain fatty acids, which decreases circulatory cholesterol concentrations either by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol synthesis or by redistributing cholesterol from plasma to the liver. Furthermore, increased bacterial activity in the large intestine results in enhanced bile acid deconjugation. Deconjugated bile acids are not well absorbed by the gut mucosa and are excreted. Consequently, cholesterol, being a precursor of bile acids, is utilized to a greater extent for de novo bile acid synthesis. These actions combined are proposed as contributing mechanisms to the association of fermented milk consumption with decreased circulating cholesterol concentrations.

Hematological and lipid changes in newborn piglets fed milk-replacer diets containing erucic acid.

Canola oil is not presently permitted in infant formulations in the United States because of lack of information concerning the effects of feeding canola oil to the newborn. We have previously reported a transient decrease in platelet counts and an increase in platelet size in newborn piglets fed canola oil for 4 wk, and have confirmed this in the present study. In canola oil-fed piglets, changes in platelet size and number were overcome by adding either long-chain saturated fatty acids from cocoa butter (16:0 and 18:0), or shorter-chain saturates from coconut oil (12:0 and 14:0). Feeding a high erucic acid rape-seed (HEAR) oil, with 20% 22:1n-9, led to an even greater platelet reduction and increased platelet size throughout the 4-wk trial. Bleeding times were longer in piglets fed canola oil or HEAR oil compared to sow-reared and soybean oil-fed piglets. There were no other diet-related changes. Diet-induced platelet changes were not related to platelet lipid class composition, but there were fatty acid changes. The incorporation of 22:1n-9 into platelet phospholipids of piglets fed canola oil was low (0.2-1.2%), and even for the HEAR oil group ranged from only 0.2% in phosphatidylinositol to 2.4% in phosphatidylserine. A much greater change was observed in the concentration of 24:1n-9 and in the 24:1n-9/24:0 ratio in platelet sphingomyelin (SM). The 24:1n-9 increased to 49% in the HEAR oil group compared to about 12% in animals fed the control diets (sow-reared piglets and soybean oil-fed group), while the 24:1n-9/24:0 ratio increased from about 1 to 12. Even feeding canola oil, prepared to contain 2% 22:1n-9, led to a marked increase in 24:1n-9 to 29% and had a 24:1n-9/24:0 ratio of 5. The canola oil/cocoa butter group, which also contained 2% 22:1n-9, showed a lower level of 24:1n-9 (20%) and the 24:1n-9/24:0 ratio (3) compared to the canola oil group. The results suggest that the diet-related platelet changes in newborn piglets may be related to an increase in 24:1n-9 in platelet SM, resulting from chain elongation of 22:1n-9. The inclusion of canola oil as the sole source of fat in the milk-replacer diets of newborn piglets resulted in significant platelet and lipid changes.

A solvent-based fixative for electron microscopy to improve retention and visualization of the intestinal mucus blanket for probiotics studies.

Samples of pig small intestine, cecum, and large intestine were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), concentrating on mucus blanket retention and visualization. Samples were fixed using three aqueous-based fixatives which included a standard glutaraldehyde fixative alone as the control and the standard fixative formulation with either ruthenium red or alcian blue added and using one solvent-based fixative, osmium tetroxide dissolved in FC-72 (a degreasing fluorocarbon solvent produced by 3M Canada, Inc.), which had been successfully used by Sims et al. [(1991) Biotech. Histochem., 66:173-180] to preserve tracheal mucus of nonhuman mammals. Pig intestine samples prepared using the solvent-based fixative retained a contiguous mucus blanket, while the aqueous-based treatments retained only patchy or fibrous remnants to a degree depending on fixative composition and intestinal site. We conclude that preparation of the pig intestinal mucus layer using the solvent-based fixative suggested by Sims et al. (1991) preserves the mucus blanket in its entirety and gives superior results to aqueous-based fixatives containing the standard additives ruthenium red and alcian blue. We recommend that this anhydrous fixation, which requires only a slight modification from standard conditions, be adopted when mucus layer retention and visualization is important, as in the field of probiotics. Overcoming this major technical obstacle will now allow electron microscopy (EM) to once again provide new in situ information in this reemerging field.

Effect of vitamin E supplementation on immune status and alpha-tocopherol in plasma of piglets.

Twelve (Yorkshire) gilts were assigned to 2 dietary fat supplement groups starting at 57 d of gestation. Group 1 received no fat and Group 2 was supplemented with 5% Canola oil. Each group was supplemented with 0.1 ppm Se and 22 IU of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate/kg of feed. Colostrum (d 0) and milk (7, 14, 21 and 28 d post partum) were sampled from gilts. At farrowing 3 piglets from each gilt of both groups were injected with alpha-tocopherol at birth (500 IU) and at 7 and 14 d (1,000 IU) of age and 3 piglets were injected with saline and used as control. Blood samples were taken from the newborn piglets at birth and at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 d of age. alpha-Tocopherol concentration in the colostrum of gilts was significantly higher than in the milk. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations and antibody titres to Key-hole limpet haemocyanin of piglets injected with vitamin E were significantly higher than the control piglets. Vitamin E injected piglets had significantly higher alpha-tocopherol concentrations in spleen, liver, kidney, heart, lung and hip muscle than the control piglets.

Hematological and lipid changes in newborn piglets fed milk replacer diets containing vegetable oils with different levels of n-3 fatty acids.

To test if linolenic acid (18:3n-3) from vegetable oils would affect bleeding times and platelet counts in newborns, piglets were used as a model fed milk replacer diets containing 25% (by wt) vegetable oils or oil mixtures for 28 d and compared to sow-reared piglets. The oils tested included soybean, canola, olive, high oleic sunflower (HOAS), a canola/coconut mixture and a mixture of oils mimicking canola in fatty acid composition. All piglets fed the milk replacer diets showed normal growth. Bleeding times increased after birth from 4-6 min to 7-10 min by week 4 (P < 0.001), and were higher in pigs fed diets containing 18:3n-3, as well as in sow-reared piglets receiving n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the milk, as compared to diets low in 18:3n-3. Platelet numbers increased within the first week in newborn piglets from 300 to 550 x 10(9)/L, and remained high thereafter. Milk replacer diets, containing vegetable oils, generally showed a transient delay in the rise of platelet numbers, which was partially associated with an increased platelet volume. The oils showed differences in the length of delay, but by the third week of age, all platelet counts were > 500 x 10(9)/L. The delay in rise in platelet counts appeared to be related to the fatty acid composition of the oil, as the effect was reproduced by a mixture of oils with a certain fatty acid profile, and disappeared upon the addition of saturated fatty acids to the vegetable oil. There were no alterations in the coagulation factors due to the dietary oils. Blood plasma, platelets and red blood cell membranes showed increased levels of 18:3n-3 and long-chain n-3 PUFA in response to dietary 18:3n-3. The level of saturated fatty acids in blood lipids was generally lower in canola and HOAS oil-fed piglets as compared to piglets fed soybean oil or reared with the sow. The results suggest that consumption of milk replacer diets containing vegetable oils rich in 18:3n-3 does not represent a bleeding risk, and that the transient lower platelet count can be counterbalanced by the addition of saturated fatty acids to the vegetable oils.

Effect of supplementing gilts' diets with different levels of vitamin E and different fats on the humoral and cellular immunity of gilts and their progeny.

The effects of supplementing gestation and lactation diets of gilts with different combinations of vitamin E at or above NRC recommended levels (22, 44, or 88 IU/kg during gestation and 55, 110, and 220 IU/kg during lactation) and types of fat (5% added tallow or fish oil or no added fat) on humoral and cellular immunity of gilts and their pigs were evaluated. With only two exceptions, total IgG, IgM, and IgA in colostrum, milk, and plasma of gilts and in plasma of their pigs did not show significant (P > .05) effects, and no interactions between vitamin E and fat supplementation were observed. Cellular immunity was measured as lymphocyte proliferation response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium avium, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Salmonella typhimurium LPS. Only the nonspecific mitogens, PHA and Con A, induced proliferation of gilt and pig lymphocytes. Fish oil supplementation in the gilts' diets resulted in lower (P < .01) postpartum PHA response in gilts and slower (P < .05) acquisition of PHA response in newborn pigs compared with groups with added tallow or no added fat. The vitamin E supplementation did not have a significant positive effect on either PHA or Con A response of the gilts. However, the rate of acquisition of PHA response and Con A response in newborn pigs was greater (P < .05) for groups supplemented with 110 and 220 IU/kg of vitamin E than for the group supplemented with 55 IU/kg vitamin E.

Backfat and carcass composition of piglets fed milk replacers containing vegetable oil compared with sow-reared piglets.

The carcass composition of piglets fed artificial milk was compared to sow-reared piglets. The artificial milk diets contained 25%, by weight, soybean oil or mixtures of canola and high erucic acid rapeseed oil. Both the total lipid and nitrogen (apparent) digestibility of the artificial milk diets was high, even when the dietary oil contained high levels of erucic acid. Sow-reared animals were matched with the piglets receiving the artificial milk by sex and live body weight. On both a relative and an absolute basis, the piglets receiving the artificial milk diets had less carcass fat than sow-reared animals. The per cent nitrogen and ash of the carcasses of sow-reared piglets were significantly reduced compared with piglets eating milk replacer. The fatty-acid patterns of the backfat of the piglets generally resembled the patterns of the dietary lipids. Piglets eating vegetable oil diets had long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in their backfat, even though the oils they were consuming did not.

Vitamin E and fat supplementation of sows and the effect on tissue vitamin E concentrations in their progeny.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing the diets of gestating and lactating sows with 3 levels of vitamin E (22, 44 or 88 IU/kg) and fat (no fat, 5% tallow, or 5% fish oil) on tissue vitamin E concentrations in their progeny. Tissue levels of vitamin E were examined at birth, and then at 14 and 28 d of age in the suckling piglets. Vitamin E concentration in all tissues at birth were very low (hip muscle, neck muscle, lung, brain, heart, kidney < 1.0 microgram/g tissue). Piglet tissue vitamin E levels at birth were influenced by the vitamin E status of the maternal diet during gestation. The piglet tissue concentration of vitamin E increased 2- to 3-fold by 14 d of age. Tocopherol concentrations greater than 3 micrograms/g tissue were found in the liver, lung, spleen, heart and kidney. Tissue vitamin E concentrations of piglets from sows that had received fish oil were lower (significantly in 5 cases: P < 0.05) than piglets from sows receiving tallow or no fat. Tocopherol concentrations in tissues, with the exception of the spleen, increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increased vitamin E in the sows' diet.

Effects of vitamin E and fat supplementation on concentration of vitamin E in plasma and milk of sows and in plasma of piglets.

Twenty-seven (Yorkshire) gilts, on a corn-soybean diet up to 57 d of gestation, were assigned to 3 treatment groups. Group 1 received no fat, Group 2 were supplemented with 5% tallow and Group 3 with 5% fish oil. Each group was supplemented with 0.1 ppm Se and 22, 44 or 88 IU of dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate/kg of feed. Samples of gilts' blood were taken at 57, 78 and 99 days of gestation, parturition, 14 and 28 d later. Similarly, first colostrum and milk (14 and 28 days postpartum) were sampled. Blood samples were also taken from the newborn piglets and at 14 and 28 d post natally. Increasing gilts' dietary vitamin E concentrations during gestation and lactation increased alpha-tocopherol levels in the plasma (P < 0.05). No statistical difference was observed (P > 0.05) in gilts' plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration at any blood sampling time among dietary fat treatments. Dietary fat did not affect alpha-tocopherol concentrations in colostrum or milk (P > 0.05). Overall the effect of vitamin E supplementation was linear in the milk at 14 and 28 d of sampling. The level of alpha-tocopherol in the colostrum was much higher than in milk. At birth piglet tocopherol concentrations were very low, perhaps because little tocopherol crosses the placental barrier. At day 14 piglet plasma tocopherol concentrations increased about 4-fold (P < 0.01) with a tendency for a greater concentration in piglets sucking gilts receiving higher levels of alpha-tocopherol. Dietary effects were not found to be significant (P > 0.05).

Effects of dietary saturated fat on erucic acid induced myocardial lipidosis in rats.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed for one week diets containing 20% by weight fat/oil mixtures with different levels of erucic acid (22:1n-9) (approximately 2.5 or 9%) and total saturated fatty acids (approximately 8 or 35%). Corn oil and high erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR) oil were fed as controls. The same hearts were evaluated histologically using oil red O staining and chemically for cardiac triacylglycerol (TAG) and 22:1n-9 content in cardiac TAG to compare the three methods for assessing lipid accumulation in rat hearts. Rats fed corn oil showed trace myocardial lipidosis by staining, and a cardiac TAG content of 3.6 mg/g wet weight in the absence of dietary 22:1n-9. An increase in dietary 22:1n-9 resulted in significantly increased myocardial lipidosis as assessed histologically and by an accumulation of 22:1n-9 in heart lipids; there was no increase in cardiac TAG except when HEAR oil was fed. An increase in saturated fatty acids showed no changes in myocardial lipid content assessed histologically, the content of cardiac TAG or the 22:1n-9 content of TAG at either 2.5 or 9% dietary 22:1n-9. The histological staining method was more significantly correlated to 22:1n-9 in cardiac TAG (r = 0.49; P less than 0.001) than to total cardiac TAG (r = 0.40; P less than 0.05). The 22:1n-9 content was highest in cardiac TAG and free fatty acids. Among the cardiac phospholipids, the highest incorporation was observed into phosphatidylserine, followed by sphingomyelin. With the addition of saturated fat, the fatty acid composition showed decreased accumulation of 22:1n-9 and increased levels of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in most cardiac phospholipids, despite decreased dietary concentrations of their precursor fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids.

Comparative vitamin E requirements and metabolism in livestock.

It has been over 50 years since vitamin E was originally described as a lipid-soluble dietary constituent required for normal reproduction in rats. Vitamin E is recognized as an essential vitamin required for all classes of animals functioning predominantly as an intracellular antioxidant in maintaining the integrity of biological cell membranes. Although a wealth of information has been gathered on clinical signs of vitamin E deficiency, establishing its requirements for animals has been exceedingly difficult because of interrelationships with other dietary constituents. Vitamin E requirements for animals cannot be defined in isolation. Requirements are influenced by the amount and type of fat (particularly with monogastrics) and degree of fat oxidation in the diet; the presence of antioxidants; dietary selenium (closely interrelated with vitamin E), iron, copper, and sulphur amino acids, as well as the physiological status of the animal. Other factors to be considered in assessing vitamin E needs of animals under commercial production conditions include: a) variability of vitamin E content in feedstuffs; b) poor stability of vitamin E during processing and storage of feeds; and c) management practices resulting in overstressed animals. Information on the function of or requirements for vitamin E in animals is very incomplete. Estimated dietary vitamin E requirements for most animal species are in the range of 10-40 IU/kg of diet. Of particular concern is the lack of vitamin E requirement information regarding young dairy and beef calves. Although good experimental evidence indicates a beneficial role of supplemental vitamin E above physiological levels on overall performance, enhanced immunocompetence and preservation of meat and milk products, levels of vitamin E required to produce these desired effects needs to be firmly established. Present estimated dietary requirements for vitamin E across species may need to be redefined as new information becomes available about the role this nutrient plays in growth, health and overall metabolism.

Myocardial changes in newborn piglets fed sow milk or milk replacer diets containing different levels of erucic acid.

This study was undertaken to determine whether the neonate was more susceptible to the effects of dietary erucic acid (22:1n-9) than the adult. Newborn piglets were used to assess the safety of different levels of 22:1n-9 on lipid and histological changes in the heart. Newborn piglets showed no myocardial lipidosis as assessed by oil red 0 staining, but lipidosis appeared with consumption of sow milk and disappeared by seven days of age. Milk replacer diets containing soybean oil, or rapeseed oil mixtures with up to 5% 22:1n-9 in the oil, or 1.25% in the diet, gave trace myocardial lipidosis. Rapeseed oil mixtures with 7 to 42.9% 22:1n-9 showed definite myocardial lipidosis in newborn piglets, which correlated to dietary 22:1n-9, showing a maximum after one week on diet. The severity of the lipidosis was greater than observed previously with weaned pigs. There were no significant differences among diets in cardiac lipid classes except for triacylglycerol (TAG), which increased in piglets fed a rapeseed oil with 42.9% 22:1n-9. TAG showed the highest incorporation of 22:1n-9, the concentration of 22:1n-9 in TAG was similar to that present in the dietary oil. Among the cardiac phospholipids, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylserine had the highest, and diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) the lowest level of 22:1n-9. The low content of 22:1n-9 in DPG of newborn piglets is not observed in weaned pigs and rats fed high erucic acid rapeseed oil. The relative concentration of saturated fatty acids was lowered in all cardiac phospholipids of piglets fed rapeseed oils, possibly due to the low content of saturated fatty acids in rapeseed oils. The results suggest that piglets fed up to 750 mg 22:1n-9/kg body weight/day showed no adverse nutritional or cardiac effects.