title: Ingestion of medium chain fatty acids by lactating dairy cows increases concentrations of plasma ghrelin.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) on plasma ghrelin concentration in lactating dairy cows. Five early-lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments in a crossover design with 2-wk periods. Treatments consisted of diets supplemented or not (control) with calcium salts of MCFAs (MCFA-Ca; 1.5% dry matter). Plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations in blood samples taken from the jugular vein were measured on the morning of feeding on day 14 of each period. Dry matter intake, milk protein, and lactose content of cows fed the MCFA-Ca diet were decreased compared with controls, but with no change in milk yield. Plasma ghrelin concentrations were higher in cows fed the MCFA-Ca diet; however, no significant effect was found on glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations in plasma. Plasma insulin concentrations decreased, but plasma glucagon concentrations remained unchanged in cows fed the MCFA-Ca diet. The concentrations of nonesterified FAs, total cholesterol, and β-hydroxybutyrate in plasma increased in these cows. In conclusion, dietary MCFAs increase the plasma ghrelin concentrations in lactating dairy cows.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan; National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Tsukuba 305-0901, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fukumori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugino
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shingu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moriya
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kangawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obitsu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kushibiki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: Dairy cow; Ghrelin; Medium-chain fatty acids