R. Bras. Zootec.17/jul/2025;54:e20250041.

Não-Ruminantes

Impacts of trace minerals (zinc, copper, and selenium) supplementation on pig’s health under different challenge models

Maykelly da Silva Gomes , Gabriel Cipriano Rocha , Danyel Bueno Dalto , Damares de Castro Fidelis Toledo , Jansller Luiz Genova

DOI: 10.37496/rbz5420250041

ABSTRACT

Pigs are susceptible to infections and inflammatory conditions throughout their life phases, requiring adequate nutrient intake to support immune defense functions. Trace elements such as zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and copper (Cu) are crucial for immune competence and antioxidant defense. While nutritional guidelines define baseline requirements, the swine industry frequently adopts supranutritional levels of Zn, Cu, and Se to optimize health and performance. Therefore, this review explores the impacts of trace mineral supplementation (e.g., Zn, Cu, and Se) on pig health subjected to stressors such as heat stress, oxidative stress, and infections. Various experimental models replicate challenges faced on commercial farms, in which Zn supports immune function by stabilizing cell membranes, modulating cytokine expression, and strengthening the intestinal barrier through increased synthesis of tight junction proteins, which collectively help reduce inflammation and pathogen translocation. In turn, Cu contributes to immune defense via its bacteriostatic effects and its role as a cofactor in antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, which mitigates oxidative damage by neutralizing reactive oxygen species. Moreover, Se is essential for the synthesis of selenoproteins, which protect cells from oxidative stress by regulating redox reactions and enhancing glutathione peroxidase activity. These mechanisms, as demonstrated in recent studies, suggest that supplementing these trace minerals above standard dietary levels can significantly improve immune function, antioxidant defenses, and intestinal integrity in pigs, providing strategies to meet the physiological demands imposed by various stressors in pig production systems.