Temporal response characteristics and interplay of energy metabolism-related hormones during fasting in piglets.

Eight hours of fasting represents a critical metabolic transition point in piglets, informing optimal peri-operative fasting duration.

This study investigated the temporal dynamics and interrelationships of key energy metabolism hormones—glucose (Glu), insulin (INS), leptin (LEP), and ghrelin (GHR)—during early fasting in piglets at 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours post-feeding cessation. Using linear mixed-effects models and nonlinear function fitting, the researchers characterized hormonal response patterns with high temporal resolution. Glu, INS, and LEP all followed a biphasic pattern, declining to nadir values at 8 hours of fasting (FT8: Glu 5.60 mmol/L, INS 7.13 mIU/L, LEP 2.90 ng/mL) before rebounding, while GHR exhibited an inverse pattern, peaking at FT8 (1.62 ng/mL). Significant fasting effects were noted for Glu temporal patterning (F=4.60, P<0.01), and group differences in INS and GHR were apparent at FT6. Nonlinear coupling analysis between INS and LEP revealed complex higher-order relationships at FT6 and FT12, with distinct inflection point profiles suggesting different regulatory mechanisms at early versus late fasting stages. The 8-hour fasting point emerged as a critical physiological transition. These findings have direct implications for pre-surgical fasting protocols, neonatal nutrition management, and understanding metabolic stress responses in swine, and may inform analogous practices in other veterinary species including small animals where peri-operative fasting guidelines continue to evolve.

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