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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) / Effects of dietary fish oil and alpha-tocopherol supplementa...
Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition2020; 105 Suppl 2; 3-17; doi: 10.1111/jpn.13437

Effects of dietary fish oil and alpha-tocopherol supplementation on selected blood parameters and fatty acid profiles in mares and their foals.

Abstract: The effects of fish oil (40 ml/day) supplementation, with or without synthetic all-rac-alpha-tocopherol-acetate (2,500 IU/day), during the last 65 days before expected parturition were investigated in 15 adult mares (553 ± 24 kg BW) and their foals. Mares were assigned to one of three diets: control (n = 5), control plus fish oil and alpha-tocopherol (n = 4; FO + AT) or control with just fish oil (n = 6; FO). Blood samples were obtained from the mares before a 15-day dietary adaptation period (T1) and from mares and foals the first (T2) and fifth (T3) days post-partum. Colostrum was collected at T2 and milk at T3. Routine haematological, biochemical and alpha-tocopherol analyses were undertaken on all blood samples. Fatty acid concentrations were determined in the foal serum and alpha-tocopherol concentrations measured in the milk and colostrum. Diet had no effect on haematology or biochemistry in the mares. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly higher at T2 & T3 in the FO + AT mares. Foal WBCs were higher in FO (11.33 ± 2.59 × 10 /l), comparing to FO + AT and control groups (9.18 ± 1.24 × 10 /l and 7.26 ± 1.03 × 10 /l, respectively), at T3 (p < .05). There was no significant effect of the fish oil supplementation on the foal's serum fatty acid profile. In the FO + AT group, both colostrum and milk alpha-tocopherol concentrations (2.56 ± 0.36 and 1.36 ± 0.22 µg/ml, respectively) were higher compared than those of the FO group (1.33 ± 0.39 and 0.72 ± 0.31 µg/ml, respectively; p < .05). Additional 2,500 IU/day of synthetic alpha-tocopherol in the last 65 days of pregnancy increased alpha-tocopherol concentrations in colostrum and milk and the foal's serum. 40 ml/day fish oil, however, did not significantly increase serum eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations in the foals.
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Publication Date: 2020-11-22 PubMed ID: 33225499DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13437Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research investigates how the supplementation of fish oil, with or without the addition of a synthetic form of alpha-tocopherol, affects certain blood parameters and fatty acid profiles in mares and their foals. Found that alpha-tocopherol was significantly higher in supplemented mares and foals, but fish oil had no significant effect on the foal’s serum fatty acid profile.

Study Design

  • The study involved 15 adult mares and their foals. The mares were divided into three groups: a control group without any supplementation, a group with fish oil and alpha-tocopherol supplementation (FO + AT), and a group with just fish oil supplementation (FO).
  • The mares were supplemented with 40 ml/day of fish oil and/or 2,500 IU/day of alpha-tocopherol, 65 days before expected parturition.
  • Blood samples were collected from the mares and their foals at three different time points: before the introduction of the dietary supplement (T1), the first day after parturition (T2), and the fifth day after parturition (T3).

Findings

  • No significant effects of the diet were observed in the hematological or biochemistry parameters of the mares.
  • In the FO + AT group, alpha-tocopherol levels in the blood were significantly higher than those in the control and FO groups. This was observed both at T2 and T3.
  • The white blood cells count in the FO group was higher than those in the FO + AT group and the control group at T3.
  • The fish oil supplementation did not lead to significant changes in the foal’s serum fatty acid profile.
  • The FO + AT group showed higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in colostrum and milk compared to the FO group.

Conclusion

  • Supplementing a mare’s diet with synthetic alpha-tocopherol 65 days prior to parturition significantly increased the levels of alpha-tocopherol in the blood, colostrum, and milk, as well as the foal’s serum.
  • However, providing the mares with 40 ml/day of fish oil did not have any significant effect on the concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (fatty acids) in the foal’s serum.

Cite This Article

APA
Danyer E, Bilal T. (2020). Effects of dietary fish oil and alpha-tocopherol supplementation on selected blood parameters and fatty acid profiles in mares and their foals. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 105 Suppl 2, 3-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13437

Publication

Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
ISSN: 1439-0396
NlmUniqueID: 101126979
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 105 Suppl 2
Pages: 3-17

Researcher Affiliations

Danyer, Erdem
  • Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey.
Bilal, Tanay
  • Department of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Colostrum
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fatty Acids / blood
  • Female
  • Fish Oils / administration & dosage
  • Horses
  • Pregnancy
  • alpha-Tocopherol / administration & dosage

Grant Funding

  • 54826 / Research Fund of Istanbul University

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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