title: The Effects of Oral Quercetin Supplementation on Splanchnic Glucose Metabolism in 1-Week-Old Calves Depend on Diet after Birth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inadequate colostrum supply results in insufficient intake of macronutrients and bioactive factors, thereby impairing gastrointestinal development and the maturation of glucose metabolism in neonatal calves. The flavonoid quercetin has been shown to have health-promoting properties, including effects in diabetic animals. However, quercetin interacts with intestinal glucose absorption and might therefore exert negative effects in neonates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the interaction between neonatal diet and quercetin feeding on splanchnic glucose metabolism in neonatal calves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Calves (n = 28) were assigned to 4 groups and fed either colostrum or a milk-based formula on days 1 and 2 and supplemented daily with 148 μmol quercetin aglycone/kg body weight [colostrum with quercetin (CQ+)/formula with quercetin (FQ+)] or without this substance [colostrum without quercetin (CQ-)/formula with quercetin (FQ-)] from days 2-8. From day 3 onward, all calves received milk replacer. A xylose absorption test was performed on day 3, and on day 7, blood samples were collected to study glucose first-pass uptake after [(13)C6]-glucose feeding and intravenous [6,6-(2)H2]-glucose bolus injection. Plasma concentrations of metabolites and hormones were measured by taking additional blood samples. A biopsy specimen of the liver was harvested on day 8 to measure the mRNA expression of gluconeogenic enzymes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher postprandial plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, urea, adrenaline, noradrenaline, insulin, and glucagon on day 7 in colostrum-fed calves indicate that metabolic processes were stimulated. Postabsorptive xylose and glucose plasma concentrations each increased by an additional 26%, and splanchnic glucose turnover decreased by 35% in colostrum-fed calves, suggesting improved glucose absorption and lower splanchnic glucose utilization in colostrum-fed calves. Quercetin supplementation resulted in higher noradrenaline concentrations and enhanced peak absorption and oxidation of [(13)C6]-glucose by 10%. Liver mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA abundance was reduced by 34% in colostrum-deprived calves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Feeding colostrum during the first 2 d of life is crucial for maturation of splanchnic glucose metabolism in calves. Supplementing quercetin improves gastrointestinal absorption capacity, particularly in colostrum-deprived calves.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner".
authors.forename: Jeannine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gruse
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner".
authors.forename: Solvig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Görs
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Biometry.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuchscherer
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Physiology, and.
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Otten
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany; and.
authors.forename: Joachim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weitzel
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner".
authors.forename: Cornelia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Metges
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolffram
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner", hammon@fbn-dummerstorf.de.
authors.forename: Harald M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hammon
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D003126:Colostrum; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D044948:Flavonols / Q000097:blood; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014994:Xylose / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D044948:Flavonols; D007328:Insulin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019344:Lactic Acid; D014508:Urea; D005934:Glucagon; D011794:Quercetin; D014994:Xylose; D005947:Glucose; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine
keywords: calf; colostrum; formula; glucose metabolism; quercetin