Abstract
Dairy cows experience increased oxidative stress during periods of transition such as at the cessation of lactation and around the periparturient period, thus increasing disease risk. Despite routine supplementation of transition cow diets with certain vitamins in an attempt to mitigate oxidative stress, there is no currently available data directly linking vitamin supplementation with antioxidant potential (AOP) in transition cows. The objective of this study was to determine the association between serum vitamins and biomarkers of oxidative stress in healthy cows. Blood samples were collected from 240 cows at dry off (DO), close up (CU), and 2–10 days post-calving (DIM2-10). Blood samples were analyzed for vitamins (A, D, E), β-carotene, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and AOP. Spearman correlations and mixed linear regression models were used to assess associations between vitamins and measures of oxidant status. Vitamin D concentrations were positively associated with AOP at the CU and DIM2-10. Based on the positive association with AOP, additional in-vitro studies were conducted that showed vitamin D mitigated barrier integrity loss in endothelial cells during oxidative stress. These results indicate for the first time that vitamin D may have a role in promoting antioxidant potential in transition dairy cows.
Highlights
IntroductionOxidative stress is caused from an imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant potential (AOP) [2]
Dairy cattle are susceptible to oxidative stress during the peripartum period because of metabolic and endocrine challenges occurring during parturition, lactogenesis, and external stressors such as pen and dietary changes [1]
Serum concentrations of vitamin D are positively associated with antioxidant potential (AOP) in periparturient cattle, but the common antioxidant vitamins including vitamins A, E, and β-carotene are not associated with AOP in the current study
Summary
Oxidative stress is caused from an imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant potential (AOP) [2]. ROS are oxygen-containing compounds that donate electrons to molecules in cells causing damage and dysfunction, whereas AOP encompasses a variety of enzymes and compounds that neutralize radicals and provide protection for cells [3]. Oxidative stress is the term that refers to the damaged proteins, DNA, or lipids when ROS overwhelm AOP’s neutralizing capabilities [4]. Oxidative stress is increased in dairy cattle during the periparturient period and may play a role in the pathogenesis of periparturient diseases [2,5,6]. There is increasing focus on supplementing late gestation dairy cows with vitamins and minerals to prevent oxidative stress and decrease the risk for periparturient diseases [7]
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