Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2019-2020).

The general purpose of this project is to study the impact of vitamin supplements (vitamin D, E and C) on antioxidant status and inflammatory response in pigs fed deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated diets. Specifically, the objectives are 1- to determine the effects of DON on metabolism of vitamin D in pigs; 2-to evaluate the effect vitamin D, E and C on antioxidant status and inflammatory response in pigs fed DON-contaminated diet. In fact, even if it is know that DON can affect the antioxidant and immune status, the specific effects of DON on the vitamin metabolism, especially the vitamin D, were not clearly known. Furthermore, some vitamins, like vitamins E and C, can be effective in reducing negative effects of DON on antioxidant status, but the potential effect of these vitamins on the vitamin D metabolism in pigs fed DON-contaminated diets need to be determined. The results obtained in this project will have a short and long term impact to a better use of mycotoxin contaminated feeds, especially with DON. This project will also open several areas of investigation that will allow to understand the underlying mechanisms of the effect of DON on vitamin metabolism and antioxidant and immune status, and thus the effects of vitamin supplements on these status in the animal. Finally, by developing new strategies to use efficiently contaminated feed this project will contribute to use more efficiently feed resources and develop farming techniques to maintain the competitiveness of Canadian swine industry.