Effects of dietary Capsicum oleoresin on productivity and immune responses in lactating dairy cows

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of Capsicum oleoresin in granular form (CAP) on nutrient digestibility, immune responses, oxidative stress markers, blood chemistry, rumen fermentation, rumen bacterial populations, and productivity of lactating dairy cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows, including 3 ruminally cannulated, were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design experiment. Experimental periods were 25 d in duration, including a 14-d adaptation and an 11-d data collection and sampling period. Treatments included control (no CAP) and daily supplementation of 250, 500, or 1,000 mg of CAP/cow. Dry matter intake was not affected by CAP (average 27.0±0.64 kg/d), but milk yield tended to quadratically increase with CAP supplementation (50.3 to 51.9±0.86 kg/d). Capsicum oleoresin quadratically increased energy-corrected milk yield, but had no effect on milk fat concentration. Rumen fermentation variables, apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients, and N excretion in feces and urine were not affected by CAP. Blood serum β-hydroxybutyrate was quadratically increased by CAP, whereas the concentration of nonesterified fatty acids was similar among treatments. Rumen populations of Bacteroidales, Prevotella, and Roseburia decreased and Butyrivibrio increased quadratically with CAP supplementation. T cell phenotypes were not affected by treatment. Mean fluorescence intensity for phagocytic activity of neutrophils tended to be quadratically increased by CAP. Numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils and the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes in peripheral blood linearly increased with increasing CAP. Oxidative stress markers were not affected by CAP. Overall, in the conditions of this experiment, CAP did not affect feed intake, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, T cell phenotypes, and oxidative stress markers. However, energy-corrected milk yield was quadratically increased by CAP, possibly as a result of enhanced mobilization of body fat reserves. In addition, CAP increased neutrophil activity and immune cells related to acute phase immune response.

Effects of rumen-protected Capsicum oleoresin on immune responses in dairy cows intravenously challenged with lipopolysaccharide

“…Capsicum oleoresin increased proportions of lymphocytes and CD4 + T cells when it was postruminally infused (2 g/d) in dairy cows (Oh et al, 2013). Dietary supplementation of Capsicum oleoresin (250 to 1,000 mg/d) linearly increased numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils in the study by Oh et al (2015). The pro-inflammatory effects of Capsicum in these studies, however, were exhibited in dairy cows without an immune challenge.…”

“…In previous studies with dairy cows we observed that Capsicum had stimulatory effects on immune responses (Oh et al, 2013(Oh et al, , 2015. Capsicum oleoresin increased proportions of lymphocytes and CD4 + T cells when it was postruminally infused (2 g/d) in dairy cows (Oh et al, 2013).…”

“…With respect to dairy cows, a pulse dose of Capsicum oleoresin into the abomasum increased proportions of lymphocyte and CD4 + T cells (Oh et al, 2013). Dietary supplementation of a granular form of Capsicum oleoresin increased neutrophils and monocytes in peripheral blood (Oh et al, 2015). In both studies with dairy cows, Capsicum oleoresin exhibited the pro-inflammatory effects without an immune challenge.…”

“…The RPC product used in the experiment was Nexulin (X50-7035; 15.5% Capsicum oleoresin; 0.93% capsaicinoids; Pancosma, S. A., Geneva, Switzerland). The dose amount was determined based on our previous study with lactating dairy cows (Oh et al, 2015). Each experimental period of the main study lasted 28 d, including 14 d for adaptation and 14 d for data collection and sampling.…”

Nutraceuticals

“…Capsaicinoids, bioactive compounds sourced from flowering Capsicum plants, demonstrated an ability to modulate the acute-phase response in dairy cows, including in response to an intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. 3,98 Furthermore, postruminal supplementation of capsaicinoids increased CD4 1 T-cell proliferation. 97 By potentially affecting both the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system, capsaicinoid supplementation may be particularly beneficial during vaccination events.…”