Bioavailability of the flavonol quercetin in neonatal calves after oral administration of quercetin aglycone or rutin

Abstract

Polyphenols, such as flavonoids, are secondary plant metabolites with potentially health-promoting properties. In newborn calves flavonoids may improve health status, but little is known about the systemically availability of flavonoids in calves to exert biological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the oral bioavailability of the flavonol quercetin, applied either as quercetin aglycone (QA) or as its glucorhamnoside rutin (RU), in newborn dairy calves. Twenty-one male newborn German Holstein calves were fed equal amounts of colostrum and milk replacer according to body weight. On d 2 and 29 of life, 9 mg of quercetin equivalents/kg of body weight, either fed as QA or as RU, or no quercetin (control group) were fed together with the morning meal. Blood samples were taken before and 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after feed intake. Quercetin and quercetin metabolites with an intact flavonol structure (isorhamnetin, tamarixetin, and kaempferol) were analyzed in blood plasma after treatment with glucuronidase or sulfatase by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Maximum individual plasma concentration was depicted from the concentration-time-curve on d 2 and 29, respectively. Additional blood samples were taken to measure basal plasma concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea, and lactate as well as pre- and postprandial plasma concentrations of glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, insulin, and cortisol. Plasma concentrations of quercetin and its metabolites were significantly higher on d 2 than on d 29 of life, and administration of QA resulted in higher plasma concentrations of quercetin and its metabolites than RU. The relative bioavailability of total flavonols (sum of quercetin and its metabolites isorhamnetin, tamarixetin, and kaempferol) from RU was 72.5% on d 2 and 49.6% on d 29 when compared with QA (100%). Calves fed QA reached maximum plasma concentrations of total flavonols much earlier than did RU-fed calves. Plasma metabolites and hormones were barely affected by QA and RU feeding in this experiment. Taken together, orally administrated QA resulted in a greater bioavailability of quercetin than RU on d 2 and 29, respectively, and quercetin bioavailability of quercetin and its metabolites differed markedly between calves aged 2 and 29 d.

Short communication: Effects of oral flavonoid supplementation on the metabolic and antioxidative status of newborn dairy calves

“…Thus, improvement of the antioxidant status in newborn calves may accelerate the maturation of their own immune system, improve health status, and thus reduce calf losses. In a previous study, we have shown that quercetin in newborn calves is bio-available when fed as quercetin aglycone or as rutin, a prerequest for systemic functioning of quercetin in the body (Maciej et al, 2015). Based on that, we have tested in the present study the hypothesis that quercetin and catechin supplementation affect metabolism and the antioxidative and health status during the first 4 wk of life in dairy calves.…”

“…The calves had free access to pelleted concentrate (Kälber Start 18/3 Vollkraft Mischfutterwerke GmbH, Karstädt, Germany) and hay from d 4 on. Concentrate intake was measured daily after the morning milk feeding (Maciej et al, 2015).…”

“…The amounts of flavonoid fed to the calves in this study were based on previous studies in pigs (Lesser et al, 2004;Lühring et al, 2011). Due to studies on the bioavailability of flavonoids, all calves received their respective daily dose with the morning feeding on d 2, and no flavonoids were fed on d 3 and 4 (Maciej et al, 2015). From d 5 on, the daily dose was equally split between the morning and evening meal until d 26.…”

Quercetin Promotes the Expression of Genes Involved in Phagocytosis in Bovine Neutrophils

“…From immunological stand point, diets rich in flavonoids, specifically quercetin, have positive health benefits, i.e., reduce infection risk, affect immunity and inflammation. Additionally, solid evidence also suggests that quercetin ultimately benefits in promoting growth and performance and improved feed efficiency in livestock (Gohlke et al, 2013;Maciej et al, 2015;Stoldt et al, 2015).…”

“…One of spotlight herbal phenolic substances is quercetin, which is found in many edible plants, fruits and vegetables (Erlund, 2004;Formica et al, 1995). The bioavailability studies of quercetin and its metabolites; aglycone and rutin, in cows demonstrated that quercetin can be absorbed via digestive tracts and eventually entered the plasma (Berger et al, 2012;Gohlke et al, 2013;Maciej et al, 2015). Several in vivo studies of quercetin in neonatal calves, periparturient and lactating cows, in the aspects of bovine health and production, have been recently reported (Gohlke et al, 2013;Maciej et al, 2015;Stoldt et al, 2015); however, another point of view remains scarce in bovine innate immunity.…”