Dose-dependent effects of resistant potato starch in the diet on intestinal skatole formation and adipose tissue accumulation in the pig

Resistant starch (RS) intake leads to a reduction of apoptosis in the pig colon and thus to a reduction of skatole in the carcass. To determine the minimal amount of RS which is required for the effect, diets with varying amounts (20, 30 and 40%) of RS were fed to barrows and gilts. Controls were fed instead with 55% pre-gelatinized starch. Skatole was determined after slaughter in distal colon content and in adipose tissue (flare fat and belly fat). Resistant starch led to a dose-dependent reduction of skatole in the gut content from 134 mu g/g dry matter (controls) to 4.8 mu g/g in the 40% group. Flare fat concentrations were decreased from 159 to 20 ng/g fat and belly fat concentrations from 64 to 16 ng/g fat. Strategies to improve sensorial quality by feeding RS continuously or for only 1 week prior to slaughter are discussed.