Publication Database

Effects of the flavonoids quercetin and rutin in dairy cows (2017)

Art

Hochschulschrift

Autor

Stoldt, Ann-Kathrin (WE 4)

Quelle

Berlin: Mensch und Buch Verlag, 2017 — 116 Seiten

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/handle/fub188/12775

Kontakt

Institut für Tierernährung

Königin-Luise-Str. 49
14195 Berlin
+49 30 838 52256
tierernaehrung@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Periparturient high yielding dairy cows experience metabolic challenges that result in a negative energy balance and a range of postpartum health problems. To compensate for the negative energy balance, cows mobilize fatty acids from adipose tissues, which can lead to ketosis and fatty liver disease, typical periparturient metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the antioxidative status of these cows may be impaired. Flavonoids, such as quercetin and rutin, are polyphenolic substances found in all higher plants and have antioxidative and hepatoprotective potential and the ability to prevent or reduce lipid accumulation in the liver of rodents and humans. In addition, flavonoids can reduce the ruminal production of the greenhouse gas methane in vitro through their antibacterial properties. In ruminants, only few studies on the metabolic effects of flavonoids are available, thus the present studies were conducted to determine possible effects of flavonoids in dairy cows. The first study examined quercetin effects on energy expenditure, lipid and oxidative metabolism, as well as liver health in periparturient dairy cows. Quercetin was supplemented intraduodenally to circumvent microbial degradation in the rumen. Ten transition cows with duodenal fistulas were monitored for seven weeks. Beginning three weeks before expected calving, five cows were treated with 100 mg of quercetin dihydrate per kilogram of BW daily for 6 weeks, whereas the control cows received only the physiological saline solution. The total plasma flavonoid levels were more than 30 times higher in the quercetin- treated cows than in the control cows. The pp increases in plasma AST and GLDH activities as well as liver fat were less in the quercetin-treated cows than in the control cows. Quercetin had no effect on energy expenditure, lipid metabolism and oxidative status. A second study was conducted to investigate whether rutin, a relatively rumen stable form of quercetin, has effects on energy metabolism, methane production and production performance in dairy cows. Rutin trihydrate at a dose of 100 mg per kg BW was fed to a group of seven lactating dairy cows for two weeks in a cross-over-design. In a second step, two cows were fed the same ration but were supplemented with buckwheat seeds (Fagopyrum tartaricum) providing rutin at a comparable dose. Two other cows receiving barley supplements were used as controls in a change-over mode. Supplementation of pure rutin but not of rutin contained in buckwheat seeds increased the plasma quercetin content. Methane production and performance were not affected by rutin treatment in either form, but plasma glucose and BHBA were increased by pure rutin treatment, indicating a possible metabolic effect in dairy cows. In summary, the results indicate that the absolute concentrations of flavonoids in cows’ plasma and tissue as well as health conditions and the stage of lactation of the cow influence the specificity of quercetin effects. Effects of quercetin are contradictory under different settings and health promoting properties of quercetin seem to be more pronounced in cows under challenging metabolic health conditions.