title: Dietary verbascoside supplementation in donkeys: effects on milk fatty acid profile during lactation, and serum biochemical parameters and oxidative markers.
abstract: Various uses of donkeys' milk have been recently proposed for human consumption on the basis of its nutritional characteristics. Improvements in milk fatty acid profile and animal oxidative status can be induced through dietary supplementation of phenolic compounds. The study aimed to evaluate in donkeys the effects of dietary supplementation with verbascoside (VB) on: (i) the fatty acid profile and vitamins A and E contents of milk during a whole lactation, and (ii) blood biochemical parameters and markers of oxidative status of the animals. At foaling, 12 lactating jennies were subdivided into two groups (n 6): control, without VB supplement; VB, receiving a lipid-encapsulated VB supplement. Gross composition, fatty acid profile and vitamins A and E contents in milk were assessed monthly over the 6 months of lactation. Serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol, tryglicerides, non-esterified fatty acid, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, reactive oxygen metabolites, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), vitamin A and vitamin E were evaluated at 8 days after foaling (D0) and then at D90, D105 and D120 of lactation. In milk, the VB supplementation decreased the saturated fatty acids (P<0.05) and increased the monounsaturated fatty acids (P<0.05), and vitamins A and E (P<0.01) values. On the serum parameters, the VB supplementation decreased total cholesterol (P<0.01), tryglicerides, bilirubin, ALT and TBARs, and increased (P<0.01) vitamin E. In conclusion, the VB dietary supplementation affects the nutritional quality of donkey's milk with a benefit on the oxidative status and serum lipidic profile of the animals.
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Scienze Agro-Ambientali e Territoriali,University of Bari,Via G. Amendola 165/A,70126 Bari,Italy.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.affiliation: 2Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti,University of Molise,Via De Sanctis snc,86100 Campobasso,Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vizzarri
authors.affiliation: 2Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti,University of Molise,Via De Sanctis snc,86100 Campobasso,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Scienze Agro-Ambientali e Territoriali,University of Bari,Via G. Amendola 165/A,70126 Bari,Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martemucci
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018397:Equidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*; D059808:Polyphenols
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005960:Glucosides; D008055:Lipids; D010636:Phenols; D014810:Vitamin E; D014815:Vitamins; C058956:acteoside; D059808:Polyphenols
keywords: blood biochemical parameters; donkey; fatty acid profile; milk; verbascoside supplement