title: Short communication: Associations between blood fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, and α-tocopherol in the periparturient period in dairy cows: An observational study.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to examine the relationships between blood concentrations of fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and α-tocopherol during the periparturient period in dairy cows. Blood samples were collected from 131 cows belonging to 4 different commercial dairy farms in southeastern Europe (Greece and Italy). We determined blood concentrations of fatty acids, BHB, and α-tocopherol at dry-off, at calving, and 30d postpartum. Results indicated that fatty acid concentrations were low at dry-off, reached maximum value at calving, and then declined at 30d postpartum. In fact, fatty acid concentrations at 30d postpartum were 50% lower than at calving. In contrast, BHB concentrations were low at dry-off, increased by 27% at calving, and continued to increase by another 20% at 30d postpartum. Overall, we found a weak correlation between fatty acids and BHB throughout the periparturient period. Concentrations of α-tocopherol were lowest at calving, and we detected no differences in α-tocopherol concentrations at dry-off or 30d postpartum. Negative correlations between fatty acids and α-tocopherol were highly significant at 30d postpartum and approached the level of significance at dry-off. However, both correlations became nonsignificant following the adjustment of α-tocopherol with cholesterol, indicating that the correlations were a reflection of changes in lipid transport. We found significant negative correlations (strong at dry-off and weak at 30d postpartum) between BHB and α-tocopherol after adjustment with cholesterol. The physiological basis for the negative correlations between BHB and α-tocopherol, especially that at dry-off, is not known and should not be taken to imply a cause-effect relationship. However, it opens the door to investigating the effects of vitamin E on liver function in dairy cows.
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, 20133, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Pilotto
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, 20133, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Savoini
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, 20133, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Baldi
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, 20133, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Invernizzi
authors: ATS (Agenzia tutela della Salute, Health Care Agency), Milan, 20122, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: De Vecchi
authors: Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855, Greece.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Theodorou
authors: Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855, Greece.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Koutsouli
authors: Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855, Greece. Electronic address: i.politis@aua.gr.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Politis
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D007558:Italy; D007774:Lactation; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D058725:Peripartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008894:Milk Proteins; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: fatty acids; α-tocopherol; β-hydroxybutyrate