title: Administration of RRR-α-tocopherol to pregnant mares stimulates maternal IgG and IgM production in colostrum and enhances vitamin E and IgM status in foals.
abstract: This study assessed the effect of a vitamin E supplement given to pregnant mares on immunoglobulins (Ig) levels in foals. In addition, the fatty acid (FA) content and composition of the mares' milk was assessed. Milk α-tocopherol concentrations were compared between pregnant Danish Warmblood mares (n = 17) given a daily oral supplement of 2500 international units (IU) RRR-α-tocopherol in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy and a group of unsupplemented mares (n = 17) receiving 170-320 IU vitamin E daily originating from the feed. Milk α-tocopherol was higher in supplemented mares (36.7, 12.4 and 9.8 μmol/l respectively) in relation to control mares (13.1, 6.4 and 5.8 μmol/l on days 1, 2 and 3 respectively; p < 0.001). Milk IgG was higher on days 2 and 3 post-partum (PP) in supplemented mares (1.03 and 0.73 mg/ml respectively) in relation to control mares (0.79 and 0.56 mg/ml respectively; p < 0.05). Milk IgM was higher on days 2 and 3 post-partum (PP) in supplemented mares (0.19 and 0.17 mg/ml) in relation to control mares (0.13 and 0.11 mg/ml respectively; p < 0.05). Plasma α-tocopherol in foals was higher from supplemented mares on days 1, 2 and 3 (5.7, 14.8 and 19.2 μmol/l respectively) in relation to foals from control mares (3.6, 6.1 and 7.6 respectively; p < 0.001). Foal plasma IgM was higher from supplemented mares on day 3 (0.50 mg/ml) in relation to foals from control mares (0.32 mg/ml; p < 0.001). The total FA content in milk was highest on day 1 (21.6 g FA/kg milk) in relation to days 2 and 3 (13.6 and 13.5 g FA/kg milk respectively; p < 0.001). In conclusion, a daily oral supplement of 2500 IU RRR-α-tocopherol increased α-tocopherol content in mare milk and foal plasma, IgG and IgM in mare milk and IgM in foal plasma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bondo
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000502:physiology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol