Effects of whole flaxseed, raw soybeans, and calcium salts of fatty acids on measures of cellular immune function of transition dairy cows

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental n-3 and n-6 fatty acid (FA) sources on cellular immune function of transition dairy cows. Animals were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 diets: control (n=11); whole flaxseed (n-3 FA source; n=11), 60 and 80g/kg of whole flaxseed [diet dry matter (DM) basis] during pre- and postpartum, respectively; whole raw soybeans (n-6 FA source; n=10), 120 and 160g/kg of whole raw soybeans (diet DM basis) during pre- and postpartum, respectively; and calcium salts of unsaturated FA (Megalac-E, n-6 FA source; n=10), 24 and 32g/kg of calcium salts of unsaturated FA (diet DM basis) during pre- and postpartum, respectively. Supplemental FA did not alter DM intake and milk yield but increased energy balance during the postpartum period. Diets containing n-3 and n-6 FA sources increased phagocytosis capacity of leukocytes and monocytes and phagocytosis activity of monocytes. Furthermore, n-3 FA source increased phagocytic capacity of leukocytes and neutrophils and increased phagocytic activity in monocytes and neutrophils when compared with n-6 FA sources. Supplemental FA effects on adaptive immune system included increased percentage of T-helper cells, T-cytotoxic cells, cells that expressed IL-2 receptors, and CD62 adhesion molecules. The results of this study suggest that unsaturated FA can modulate innate and adaptive cellular immunity and trigger a proinflammatory response. The n-3 FA seems to have a greater effect on phagocytic capacity and activity of leukocytes when compared with n-6 FA.

Different durations of whole raw soybean supplementation during the prepartum period: Measures of cellular immune function in transition cows

“…These results support previous findings where cows supplemented with WS in the pre-and postpartum periods did not show differences in monocyte phagocytosis capacity against Staph. aureus, whereas WS supplementation increased the percentage of phagocytic monocytes (Gandra et al, 2016a).…”

“…Positive effects of WS supplementation to transition cows on measures of immune system were reported in literature by Gandra et al (2016a), but these authors provided WS from 35 d of the expected calving date to 84 DIM. In this experiment, we evaluated different durations of WS supplementation including −90, −60, −30, and 0 d relative to the calving date until 90 DIM.…”

“…Researchers have demonstrated that WS supplementation to transition cows can increase the capacity of neutrophils to engulf Staph. aureus in in vitro challenges (Gandra et al, 2016a). In the current study, we demonstrated that the duration of WS supplementation increased the ROS MFI of blood neutrophils phagocytizing Staph.…”

“…The different outcomes of PUFA supplementation on the immune system are mostly attributed to the type of FA provided. Polyunsaturated FA of n-3 and n-6 series may modulate immune response (Gandra et al, 2016a) depending on the processing method of FA (rumen protected or as a free oil) and their proportion in the diet (Onetti and Grummer, 2004;Greco et al, 2015). The n-3 FA have anti-inflammatory properties, whereas the n-6 FA possess pro-inflammatory properties (Silvestre et al, 2011;Calder, 2012).…”

“…In humans and rodents, linoleic acid supplementation directly influences innate immunity by increas-ing the adhesion molecule expression in neutrophils, enhancing phagocytic activity, promoting bacterial killing by increasing ROS production in polymorphonuclear cells, and altering the synthesis of intracellular signaling molecules in immune cells (Contreras and Sordillo, 2011;Poorani et al, 2016). Studies that evaluated the supplementation of rumen-protected sources of linoleic acid to dairy cattle have shown similar responses to linoleic acid provision to humans regarding the immune system (Silvestre et al, 2011;Gandra et al, 2016a).…”