Coconut oil as a protective carrier of dietary vitamin A fed to ruminants.
Safflower and coconut oil were compared as protective carriers of dietary vitamin A supplemented to abomasally cannulated sheep. Vitamin A, 240,000 I.U., was predissolved in 11.7 g of safflower or coconut oil and bolused directly into the rumen of mature wethers along with 4 g of chromic oxide. The vitamin A was pre-dissolved in 0, 11.7, 23.4 or 35.0 g of coconut oil in experiment 2. Determination of carrier oil protectiveness of solubilized dietary vitamin A was based on recoveries of vitamin A supplement and chromic oxide in abomasal digesta 24 h post dosage. Vitamin A recoveries were significantly higher (P < 0.05) when dissolved in coconut oil (55.6%) compared to safflower oil (35.5%). Recoveries of vitamin A in abomasal digesta increased linearly (P < 0.01) with the amount of carrier coconut oil in experiment 2. Results of these experiments support the potential use of coconut oil as a protective carrier of ruminal labile vitamin A.
Fichter
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Department of Animal Science University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546, USA.
Mitchell
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D000818:Animals; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004032:Diet; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010938:Plant Oils; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D012450:Safflower Oil; D012756:Sheep; D012995:Solubility; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
D017608:Chromium Compounds; D004337:Drug Carriers; D010938:Plant Oils; D014801:Vitamin A; D012450:Safflower Oil; D000074263:Coconut Oil; C023600:chromic oxide