Maternal nano-selenium and glycyrrhiza extract supplementation improve antioxidant status in sows and promote postnatal growth of IUGR piglets.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of nano-selenium (nano-Se) and glycyrrhiza extracts (GE) on reproductive performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune functions of primiparous sows, as well as growth performance of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) piglets. A total of 60 primiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly divided into four groups (15 sows per group): 1) CON group, basal diet (0.30 mg·kg-1 Se, sodium selenite); 2) Nano-Se group, basal diet + 0.20 mg·kg-1 added Se (nano-Se); 3) GE group, basal diet + 500 mg·kg-1 added GE; 4) Combined group, basal diet + 0.20 mg·kg-1 added Se (nano-Se) and 500 mg·kg-1 added GE. The trial lasted for 46 days, from day 90 of gestation to weaning. In terms of growth performance, sole GE supplementation significantly improved the lactational litter weight gain and IUGR piglet weight gain (P < 0.05), and combined nano-Se and GE supplementation also exerted significant beneficial effects on these indicators compared with the CON group (P < 0.05), whereas individual nano-Se supplementation showed no significant effect on lactational litter weight gain (P = 0.335). For maternal antioxidant status, all dietary supplementation treatments increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in sows (P < 0.05), and the combined treatment further enhanced serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (P < 0.05). Additionally, maternal nano-Se and GE supplementation significantly increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in sow serum and colostrum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, perinatal dietary supplementation with nano‑Se and GE effectively enhances the antioxidant status and immune function of primiparous sows and improves postnatal growth performance in IUGR piglets.