This experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary folic acid supplementation on antioxidant activity in gestating and lactating sows. A total of 18 Landlly crossbred sows (Landrace × Desi) were randomly distributed into three groups (T0, T1 and T2) of six sows each in a completely randomized design (CRD). The sows in the control (T0) group were fed with basal diet (basal diet contained folic acid @ 1.3 mg/kg) as per NRC (1998). Whereas, sows in T1 and T2 groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with folic acid @ 15 mg/kg throughout gestation and both gestation and lactation, respectively. Blood samples were collected from 18 sows (6 sows/treatment) on 0 day and 114th-day post-insemination and 21st day of lactation from cranial vena cava, and serum was harvested as per the standard protocol. Sows antioxidant status was assessed at 0 and 114 days post-insemination and 21st day of lactation. A significant (P<0.01) treatment, period and treatment × period interactions were observed in the levels of serum SOD (U/ml), catalase (nmol/min/ml), TAOC (mM/ml) and MDA (μM/ml). The antioxidant enzymes like SOD, catalase and TAOC level were higher in T1 and T2 groups, whereas, the serum MDA level was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in T2 group as compared to the control (T0) group. Based on the above observations in the study it could be concluded that for better production and antioxidant defense gestational supplementation alone was sufficient

Antioxidant, Catalase, Folic acid, Gestating Sow, Malondialdehyde, Lactating Sow, Serum superoxide dismutase, Total antioxidant capacity

The results of the present study indicate that supplementation of folic acid (@ 15 mg/kg feed) throughout gestation and lactation showed a similar kind of response. However, lactational folic acid supplementation significantly reduced the MDA levels. The serum antioxidant enzyme levels of supplemented groups were comparable and did not differ significantly. Based on the above observations it could be concluded that for better production and antioxidant defense gestational supplementation of folic acid (15 mg/kg) was sufficient

Suresh R., A.K. Verma, Manobhavan M. and E. Kalaiselvan (2025). Effect of Folic Acid Supplementation on the Serum Antioxidant Profile in Gestating and Lactating Sows. Biological Forum, 17(5): 149-151