title: Short communication: Effects of oral flavonoid supplementation on the metabolic and antioxidative status of newborn dairy calves.
abstract: Scientific proof for flavonoids as a health tool in calf nutrition is inconsistent. We investigated the effects of the most abundant flavonoid, quercetin, and of a green tea extract (GTE) containing various catechins on the metabolic and antioxidative traits in dairy calves to clarify their potential health-promoting effects. Male newborn German Holstein calves (n=7 per group) received either no flavonoid (control group), 10mg of quercetin equivalents as quercetin aglycone or as rutin/kg of body weight (BW) per day, or 10mg/kg of BW per day of a GTE from d 2 to 26 of life. The supplements were provided with the morning and evening feeding. The calves were fed colostrum and milk replacer, and BW, feed intake, and health status were evaluated daily. Blood samples were collected from a jugular vein on d 1, 5, 12, 19, and 26 before the morning feeding to investigate the metabolic and antioxidative status of the calves. The growth performance and health status remained unchanged, but the GTE-fed calves had fewer loose feces than the controls. The plasma concentrations of quercetin changed over time and were higher in the rutin-fed group than in the control group, whereas the catechins were below the detection limit. The plasma Trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity and ferric reducing ability of plasma were measured as markers for plasma antioxidative capacity. The concentrations of Trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity increased, whereas ferric reducing ability of plasma decreased after the first day of life in all the groups. The oxidative stress markers in the plasma were measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and F2-isoprostanes, but these did not indicate treatment or time effects. The plasma concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea, lactate, glucose, and nonesterified fatty acids and of insulin and cortisol varied over time, but no group differences were caused by the flavonoid supplementation. In summary, orally administered quercetin and catechins at the dosages used in the present study resulted in weak effects on health and no effects on the metabolic and antioxidative status of newborn dairy calves.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner,", Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maciej
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner,", Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Schäff
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kanitz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuchscherer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bruckmaier
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolffram
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner,", Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany. Electronic address: hammon@fbn-dummerstorf.de.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hammon
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005419:Flavonoids; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013662:Tea; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002392:Catechin; D014508:Urea; D011794:Quercetin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: antioxidative status; calf; flavonoid; quercetin; rutin