Nutritional and health functions of carbohydrate for pigs

Abstract

The greatest progress in carbohydrate study in pig nutrition and health is that the carbohydrates are classified more clearly not only based on their structure, but also on their nutritional functions. Carbohydrates serve as components of cell structures, energy substrate and have regulatory functions. There are large differences in the digestion, absorption and the speed of the carbohydrates appearance in the portal vein blood plasma. Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and particularly soluble one and resistant starch (RS) may have negative effects on dietary nutrient utilization in pig growth, however, some of the NSP and RS have health benefits.