Effect of dietary fat and vitamin E on alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene in blood of peripartum cows.
Nonlactating cows were fed diets containing 88% grass forage and 12% concentrate (DM basis). Starting 14 d prior to anticipated calving, the concentrate was changed to provide 0 or 200 g of supplemental fat and 0 or 890 IU of supplemental vitamin E daily. Following parturition, cows were fed for 14 d a 50% concentrate diet that provided the same amounts of supplemental fat and vitamin E that were fed during the dry period. Plasma was sampled and analyzed for alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene. Supplemental dietary fat elevated plasma concentrations of both nutrients during the peripartum period. Supplemental dietary vitamin E elevated concentrations of alpha-tocopherol during that period. Dietary fat also increased concentrations of plasma cholesterol. When alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene were expressed per unit of plasma cholesterol, fat supplementation did not affect concentrations. Dietary treatments did not influence concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in blood neutrophils and did not affect intracellular kill of bacteria by neutrophils. Essentially no beta-carotene was found in the neutrophils. For colostrum, dietary vitamin E increased concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and decreased concentrations of beta-carotene.
Weiss
W P
WP
Department of Dairy Science, Ohio State University, Wooster 44691.
Hogan
J S
JS
Smith
K L
KL
Williams
S N
SN
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003126:Colostrum / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007700:Kinetics; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene
D004041:Dietary Fats; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D002784:Cholesterol