Table 6 Volumetric bone mineral density, morphometric and mechanical parameters of femur in pigs at slaughter age from the Control group and the groups being under prenatal influence of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG Group), β -hydroxy- β -methylbutyrate (HMB Group) or alpha-ketoglutarate and β -hydroxy- β -methylbutyrate (AH Group)

Bone weight (g)

300.1 ^a

319.3 ^b

324.8 ^bc

333.7 ^c

± 4.1

± 3.5

± 3.5

± 4.0

Bone length (mm)

197.4 ^a

197.7 ^a

196.9 ^a

201.0 ^b

± 1.0

± 1.1

± 1.0

± 0.8

Trabecular bone mineral density (g/cm³)

1.360 ^a

1.414 ^b

1.454 ^c

1.410 ^b

± 0.005

± 0.006

± 0.007

± 0.005

Cortical bone mineral density (g/cm³)

2.387 ^a

2.565 ^b

2.603 ^c

2.560 ^b

± 0.020

± 0.010

± 0.008

± 0.009

Cross-sectional area (mm²)

288.3 ^a

312.9 ^b

319.5 ^b

320.8 ^b

± 6.8

± 3.9

± 4.9

± 4.7

Second moment of inertia (mm⁴)

17 536 ^a

19 065 ^ab

19 851 ^bc

21 396 ^c

± 716

± 492

± 584

± 644

Mean relative wall thickness

0.601 ^a

0.668 ^b

0.703 ^b

0.620 ^a

± 0.014

± 0.012

± 0.017

± 0.012

Cortical index

37.16 ^a

39.70 ^b

40.78 ^b

37.95 ^a

± 0.536

± 0.433

± 0.578

± 0.467

Maximum elastic strength (N)

4066 ^a

4854 ^bc

5184 ^c

4644 ^b

± 172

± 139

± 170

± 129

Ultimate strength (N)

5377 ^a

5964 ^b

6288 ^b

6229 ^b

± 168

± 130

± 153

± 169