Dietary supplementation with pterostilbene improves the water‐holding capacity of pork in finishing pigs

BACKGROUND: Enhancing the water-holding capacity (WHC) of pork is crucial for enhancing meat quality and reducing weight loss. The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary pterostilbene (PTS) supplementation on the WHC of pork. RESULTS: PTS (PTS200) in finishing pigs reduced drip loss of pork. Using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance, it was found that PTS200 increased the contents of bound water, immobilized water and free water in pork. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that PTS200 reduced myofibril spacing and muscle fiber spacing. Furthermore, PTS200 enhanced the antioxidant capacity of pork. Additionally, PTS200 enhanced calpain-I and integrin protein expression while reducing desmin protein expression. Further mechanistic studies revealed that PTS may enhance the protein stability of calpain-I by binding to it, thereby promoting its expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that dietary PTS supplementation improves the WHC of pork, and its mechanisms may involve the promotion of antioxidant capacity, the regulation of drip channel-associated proteins and the increase of calpain-I expression in pork. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.