title: Effects of rutin and buckwheat seeds on energy metabolism and methane production in dairy cows.
abstract: Flavonoids are secondary plant metabolites with several health promoting effects. As dairy cows often suffer from metabolic imbalance and health problems, interest is growing in health improvements by plant substances such as flavonoids. Our group has recently shown that the flavonoids quercetin and rutin (a glucorhamnoside of quercetin) are bioavailable in cows when given via a duodenal fistula or orally, respectively, affect glucose metabolism, and have beneficial effects on liver health. Furthermore, flavonoids may reduce rumen methane production in vitro through their antibacterial properties. To test the hypothesis that rutin has effects on energy metabolism, methane production, and production performance in dairy cows, we fed rutin trihydrate at a dose of 100mg/kg of body weight to a group of 7 lactating dairy cows for 2 wk in a crossover design. In a second experiment, 2 cows were fed the same ration but were supplemented with buckwheat seeds (Fagopyrum tartaricum), providing rutin at a dose comparable to the first experiment. Two other cows receiving barley supplements were used as controls in a change-over mode. Blood samples were taken weekly and respiration measurements were performed at the end of each treatment. Supplementation of pure rutin, but not of rutin contained in buckwheat seeds, increased the plasma quercetin content. Methane production and milk yield and composition were not affected by rutin treatment in either form. Plasma glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, and albumin were increased by pure rutin treatment, indicating a possible metabolic effect of rutin on energy metabolism of dairy cows. In addition, we did not show that in vivo ruminal methane production was reduced by rutin. In conclusion, we could not confirm earlier reports on in vitro methane reduction by rutin supplementation in dairy cows in established lactation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner," all of Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Ann-Kathrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Stoldt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner," all of Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Derno
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner," all of Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Gürbüz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive Biology, all of Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weitzel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolffram
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Physiology "Oskar Kellner," all of Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany. Electronic address: metges@fbn-dummerstorf.de.
authors.forename: Cornelia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Metges
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D019612:Fagopyrum / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin; D007774:Lactation; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012431:Rutin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012431:Rutin; D011794:Quercetin; D008697:Methane; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: dairy cow; metabolism; methane; quercetin; rutin