Background Vegaven, an intravenous lipid emulsion based on 18-carbon n–3 (ω–3) fatty acids, reduces the accumulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in peripheral organs including the brain of parenterally fed piglets compared with fish oil-containing SMOFlipid. Inflammation may impair brain energy metabolism and growth signaling. Objectives This study aimed to compare key brain metabolic and developmental signaling pathways with the use of different lipid emulsions for parenteral nutrition (PN). Methods In this study, 3–4-d-old female piglets were randomly assigned to isocaloric isonitrogenous PN with Vegaven (VEGA, N = 10) or SMOFlipid (SMOF, N = 9). After 14 d of PN, plasma and tissue samples were collected. Results LPS and tumor necrosis factor-α were lower in brain tissue samples (prefrontal cortex) of VEGA compared with SMOF. Brain pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate in both liver and brain were higher in VEGA. In contrast, there was higher phosphorylation and activation of adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (pThr172AMPK), a sensor of energy stress and master regulator of catabolic metabolic pathways, in brain samples of SMOF without compensatory increase in fatty acid oxidation. Anabolic signaling in the brain was higher in VEGA compared with SMOF, as indicated by higher insulin receptor substrate-1 and Akt-substrate of 160 kDa abundance, and higher phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (pSer2448mTOR), essential for axon growth, dendrite arborization, and memory function. The transcription factors cAMP-response-element-binding-protein-1 (pSer133CREB1) and c-Jun, critical for brain development, showed higher nuclear abundance in brain samples of VEGA compared with SMOF. Conclusions In neonatal brains of parenterally fed female piglets, Vegaven reduced inflammation and enhanced energy metabolism and developmental signaling compared with SMOFlipid.
Current Developments in Nutrition , , DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.109400