While strong evidence from clinical studies suggests beneficial effects of carnitine supplementation on metabolic health, serious safety concerns associated with carnitine supplementation have been raised from studies in mice. Considering that the carnitine doses in these mice studies were up to 100 times higher than those used in clinical studies, the present study aimed to address possible safety concerns associated with long-term supplementation of a carnitine dose used in clinical trials. Two groups of NMRI mice were fed either a control or a carnitine-supplemented diet (1 g/kg diet) from weaning to 19 months of age, and parameters of hepatic lipid metabolism and stress signalling and skeletal muscle gene expression were analysed in the mice at 19 months of age. Concentrations of free carnitine and acetylcarnitine in plasma and tissues were higher in the carnitine than in the control group (P<0·05). Plasma concentrations of free carnitine and acetylcarnitine were higher in mice at adult age (10 and 15 months) than at advanced age (19 months) (P<0·05). Hepatic mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism and stress signalling and hepatic and plasma lipid concentrations did not differ between the carnitine and the control group. Skeletal muscle transcriptome analysis in 19-month-old mice revealed only a moderate regulation between carnitine and control group. Lifelong carnitine supplementation prevents an age-dependent impairment of plasma carnitine status, but safety concerns associated with long-term supplementation of carnitine at doses used in clinical trials can be considered as unfounded.

A significant part of a complete dairy feeding program is the mineral-vitamin component. Physiologically, minerals are involved in reproduction, lactation, cow/calf health during pregnancy and cow recovery after calving and general herd health. Highly productive dairy animals have much greater needs for minerals and vitamins than low-producing.Concentrations of minerals andvitamins in feeds can be extremely variable. Dairy animals commonly need 3 vitamins and 17 mineral for their optimal productivity. Even the deficiency of any of these can result in health, reproduction and milk production problems. The antioxidant, vitamin E and carotene are beneficial in reducing mastitis. Vitamins (D, E, C and carotene) and minerals (Cu, Zn, and Se) are needed for enhanced immune response.Almost all the members of B.comlex group, C vitamin K2 are synthesized in rumenbut ruminant diet should contain sufficient cobalt for B12 synthesis. Vitamin A is neither synthesized in the body nor contributed by bacteria and it is the only vitamin, which may be deficient supply under many conditions. Therefore its supply seems to be critical.Vitamin E content of forage is highly variable and is effective in reducing gossypol toxicity. Generally it is assumed that the dairy animals with functional rumen do not develop deficiency. Different research reports suggest the need for supplemental biotin, thiamin and niacin for dairy cattle. Pre-partum anionic diets should be supplemented to avoid Milk fever. High phosphorus diets do not improve milk production or reproduction but there is environmental concern from use of excess P. Manganese has its role in ovulation and fertility of dairy animals. Grazing dairy animals should have access to high quality freechoice mineral mixtures. Mineral and Vitamin supplementation should especially be managed before the periods of increased trace mineral demand such as calving, joining, dry-off and growth.