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Dietary electrolyte balance (dEB) may be disrupted in low-protein diets due to reduced soybean meal inclusion and increased supplementation with lysine hydrochloride. Alterations in dietary electrolyte balance can impact carcass quality by modulating muscle growth, fat deposition, and water-holding capacity in pigs.
Objective: This study evaluated the effects of dEB on intestinal barrier function, mitochondrial activity, and carcass quality in growing pigs fed low-protein diets.
Methods: A total of 144 pigs (initial body weight: 25.45 ± 0.36 kg) were assigned to a control diet (15.7% crude protein; dEB 173 mEq/kg) or one of three low-protein diets (14% crude protein) with differing dEB levels: low (LE, 120 mEq/kg), medium (ME, 180 mEq/kg), and high (HE, 240 mEq/kg).
Results: Compared with the control group, average daily gain was reduced in the LE and HE groups (−4.7% and −4.3%, respectively), as was feed efficiency (−6.7% and −4.4%, respectively), whereas performance in the ME group did not differ from the control. Intestinal morphology and barrier integrity were impaired in the LE and HE groups, as indicated by reduced villus height, transepithelial electrical resistance, and downregulation of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1). Regarding mitochondrial function, the LE group showed reduced jejunal mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP content, and activities of respiratory chain complexes I–III compared with the ME and control groups. In terms of carcass quality, the ME and HE groups showed improved meat redness (+5.7% and +6.6%) and reduced drip loss (−8.3% and −9.4%) compared with the LE group, whereas no differences were observed between the control and ME or HE groups.
Conclusion: Dietary electrolyte balance significantly influences intestinal integrity, mitochondrial function, and carcass quality in pigs fed low-protein diets, with an optimal dEB identified at approximately 180 mEq/kg.
Hao J, Li L, Lin Q, Tu X, Feng J, Ying Y, Ding L, Li J, Hu C. Effect of Dietary Electrolyte Balance in Low-Protein Diet on Intestinal Barrier, Mitochondrial Function and Carcass Quality of Growing Pigs. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2026 May; 110(3): 388-397. doi: 10.1111/jpn.70049