Influence of vitamin E on organic matter fermentation, ruminal protein and fatty acid metabolism, protozoa concentrations and transfer of fatty acids

J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2018 Oct;102(5):1111-1119. doi: 10.1111/jpn.12929. Epub 2018 Jun 19.

Abstract

Vitamin E (Vit. E) is discussed to influence ruminal biohydrogenation. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of a Vit. E supplementation on rumen fermentation characteristics, ruminal microbial protein synthesis as well as ruminal organic matter fermentation. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the influence of Vit. E supplementation on short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and protozoa concentrations in the rumen and, in addition, on transfer rates of middle-chain and long-chain fatty acids into the duodenum in lactating dairy cows. Eight rumen and duodenum fistulated German Holstein cows were assigned to either a group receiving 2,327 IU/d Vit. E (138.6 IU/kg DM DL-α-tocopherylacetate; n = 4) or a control group (23.1 IU/kg DM; n = 4). Neither ruminal protein synthesis nor organic matter fermentation was influenced by treatment. Vit. E did not act on the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids and protozoa in rumen fluid. Duodenal flow of C13:0 (1.3 versus 0.2 g/d, p = 0.014) and iso-C14:0 (1.0 versus 0.5 g/d, p = 0.050) was higher in the Vit. E group. We observed a trend for higher duodenal flows for C12:0 (1.6 versus 0.9 g/d, p = 0.095) and anteiso-C15:0 (12.2 versus 8.9 g/d, p = 0.084). Transfer rate of C12:0 tended to be higher in the Vit. E group (125.61 versus 73.96, p = 0.082). No other transfer rates were affected by treatment. Further studies are necessary to investigate the influence of Vit. E on rumen microbiota and their fatty acid production as well as on the impact of different doses of Vit. E supplementation on variables of protein synthesis efficiency.

Keywords: dairy cow; duodenal fatty acids; nitrogen flow; rumen; vitamin E.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Diet
  • Duodenum / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fermentation / drug effects*
  • Lactation
  • Milk
  • Rumen / metabolism*
  • Rumen / parasitology*
  • Vitamin E / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile
  • Vitamin E