Effects of a Maternal Essential Fatty Acid and Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation during Late Pregnancy and Early Lactation on Hematologic and Immunological Traits and the Oxidative and Anti-Oxidative Status in Blood Plasma of Neonatal Calves

Abstract

Fatty acids are known for their regulatory role in inflammation and oxidative stress. The present study investigated 38 calves born from dams, abomasally supplemented with coconut oil, essential fatty acids (EFA), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or EFA + CLA, according to immunological traits and the oxidative and anti-oxidative status for the first 5 days of life. On day 2 of life, plasma total bilirubin, cholesterol, interleukin 1-β and ferric ion reducing anti-oxygen power (FRAP) were lower in calves with than without maternal EFA supplementation, and FRAP additionally on day 4. On day 3, the concentrations of reactive oxygen metabolites were higher in calves with than without maternal EFA supplementation and additionally on day 5 together of retinol. Total leucocyte counts were decreased in the EFA group compared to the CLA group on day 5. Lymphocyte proportions decreased from day 1 to 5 only in the EFA + CLA group. On day 2, plasma total protein was higher in CLA and EFA + CLA than in EFA calves. Similarly, CLA calves had higher interleukin 1-β concentrations compared to EFA + CLA calves. FRAP was decreased by CLA on day 4. Overall, the maternal fatty acid supply affected the inflammatory response and the oxidative and anti-oxidative status of the neonatal offspring.

Triglyceride and fatty acid composition of bovine colostrum and transition milk in pasture‐based dairy cows supplemented prepartum with inorganic selenium, organic selenium or rumen‐protected choline

“…Colostral fat constitutes 6.1-6.7% of total milk solids (Puppel et al 2019) and has a higher fat content than mature milk (Czerniewicz et al 2006). Colostral fats and their digestion by-products also have antimicrobial properties (Desbois and Smith 2010) with functional FAs playing an important role in regulating blood inflammation and oxidative stress that regularly occur following birth (Liermann et al 2021).…”

“…Colostral fats and their digestion by‐products also have antimicrobial properties (Desbois and Smith 2010) with functional FAs playing an important role in regulating blood inflammation and oxidative stress that regularly occur following birth (Liermann et al . 2021).…”

Dietary Oxidized Linoleic Acids Modulate Fatty Acids in Mice

“… 3 4 5 6 These metabolites of oxidized LA are one of the most abundant derivatives of oxidized fatty acids that can be found in both plasma and tissues as esters of phospholipids, triglycerides, cholesterol and lipoproteins as well as also components of foam cells and vascular smooth muscle in atheromatous plaques. 7 8 9 …”