# Nutritional regulation of sow reproduction by vitamin A: insights and knowledge gaps

**Authors:** Samantha R. Yankocy, Claire Stenhouse

PMC · DOI: 10.1186/s40813-026-00490-9 · Porcine Health Management · 2026-02-19

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how vitamin A affects sow reproduction and highlights areas needing further research.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review and identifies knowledge gaps in vitamin A's role in swine reproduction.

## Key findings

- Vitamin A is essential for gene regulation, epithelial integrity, immune function, and reproduction in sows.
- Current knowledge on vitamin A's role in hyperprolific sows is limited and requires further investigation.

## Abstract

Nutrition plays a critical role in maintaining overall animal health, productivity, and reproductive success. Among the key nutritional components essential for optimal physiological function are vitamins, organic compounds required in small amounts for metabolism and organism growth. One vitamin of particular importance in swine production is vitamin A due to its fundamental roles in numerous physiological processes, including the regulation of gene expression, maintenance of epithelial integrity, immune system function, and reproduction. This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge regarding the role of vitamin A in sow reproduction and aims to identify critical knowledge gaps that must be addressed to support the health, productivity, and longevity of the modern hyperprolific sow.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** vitamin A (PubChem CID 445354)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** RBP4 (retinol binding protein 4) [NCBI Gene 5950] {aka MCOPCB10, RDCCAS}, RXRB (retinoid X receptor beta) [NCBI Gene 6257] {aka DAUDI6, H-2RIIBP, NR2B2, RCoR-1, RXR-beta, RXRbeta}, BCO1 (beta-carotene oxygenase 1) [NCBI Gene 100192320] {aka BCMO1}, RARS1 (arginyl-tRNA synthetase 1) [NCBI Gene 414410] {aka ARGRS, RARS}, RXRB (retinoid X receptor beta) [NCBI Gene 100156801] {aka RXRbeta}, RBP4 (retinol binding protein 4) [NCBI Gene 397124], CRABP1 (cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1) [NCBI Gene 1381] {aka CRABP, CRABP-I, CRABPI, RBP5}
- **Diseases:** NRC (MESH:D014947), respiratory disease (MESH:D012140), night blindness (MESH:D009755), impaired coordination (MESH:D001259), congenital malformations (OMIM:163000), toxicity (MESH:D064420), Vitamin A deficiency (MESH:D014802), hypervitaminosis (MESH:D006986), stillbirths (MESH:D050497), impaired weight gain (MESH:D015430), paralysis (MESH:D010243), spinal cord herniation (MESH:D013118), blindness (MESH:D001766)
- **Chemicals:** vitamins A and D (-), vitamin D (MESH:D014807), retinol acetate (MESH:C009166), palmitate (MESH:D010168), all-trans retinoic acid (MESH:D014212), Retinyl palmitate (MESH:C014794), Estradiol (MESH:D004958), retinyl propionate (MESH:C055385), steroid hormones (MESH:D013256), lipid (MESH:D008055), beta-Carotene (MESH:D019207), Retinol (MESH:D014801), retinoids (MESH:D012176), retinal (MESH:D012172), Progesterone (MESH:D011374), alcohol (MESH:D000438), luteinizing hormone (MESH:D007986), retinyl esters (MESH:D000084562), aldehyde (MESH:D000447)
- **Species:** Glycine max (soybean, species) [taxon 3847], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Sus scrofa (pig, species) [taxon 9823]

## Full text

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## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12922276/full.md

## References

17 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12922276/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12922276