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Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are the nuclear receptors that could mediate the nutrient-dependent transcriptional activation and regulate metabolic networks through energy homeostasis. However, these receptors cannot work properly under metabolic stress. PPARs and their subtypes can be modulated by nutrigenomic interventions, particularly under stress conditions to restore cellular homeostasis. Many nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, dietary amino acids and phytochemicals have shown their ability for potential activation or inhibition of PPARs. Thus, through different mechanisms, all these nutrients can modulate PPARs and are ultimately helpful to prevent various metabolic disorders, particularly in transition dairy cows. This review aims to provide insights into the crucial role of PPARs in energy metabolism and their potential modulation through nutrigenomic interventions to improve energy homeostasis in dairy animals.

In current COVID-19 pandemic, when there is no specific antiviral treatment and vaccine is available yet, many nutritional supplements have caught the attention to manage the disease. Lactoferrin is one of a natural nutritional supplement found in the milk of livestock mammals and has immunomodulation property due to its iron withholding ability and capacity to bind to multiple cellular receptors. The antiviral ability of lactoferrin has been evaluated against many viruses including SARS-CoV which is closely related to SARS-CoV-2 (causative agent of COVID-19). Furthermore, lactoferrin also possesses anti-inflammatory efficacy and can inhibit the circulating inflammatory cytokines (e.g. Interferon γ, interleukin (IL-) 1B, IL-6, IL-12) and chemokines (CCL2 and CXCL10) which are reported to be present in higher levels in COVID-19 patients. A particular research about exploring the potential of lactoferrin against SARS-CoV-2 is highly demandable because lactoferrin might prevent the SARS-CoV-2 from infecting the host cells due to its biological activities regarding antiviral immunity. We are hopeful that further research on evaluating the pharmacological effect of lactoferrin against SARS-CoV-2 will signify its role to combat COVID-19.

For dairy cattle, the period involving a shift from late pregnancy to early lactation termed transition or periparturient is an excruciating phase. Health-related disorders are likely to happen in this time frame. Timely postpartum and metabolic adjustments to this new physical state demands correct management strategies to fulfill the cow’s needs for a successful transition to this phase. Among the management strategies, one of the most researched methods for managing transition-related stress is nutritional supplementation. Dietary components directly or indirectly affect the expression of various genes that are believed to be involved in various stress-related responses during this phase. Nutrigenomics, an interdisciplinary approach that combines nutritional science with omics technologies, opens new avenues for studying the genome’s complicated interactions with food. This revolutionary technique emphasizes the importance of food-gene interactions on various physiological and metabolic mechanisms. In animal sciences, nutrigenomics aims to promote the welfare of livestock animals and enhance their commercially important qualities through nutritional interventions. To this end, an increasing volume of research shows that nutritional supplementation can be effectively used to manage the metabolic stress dairy cows undergo during the transition period. These nutritional supplements, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, dietary amino acids, and phytochemicals, have been shown to modulate energy homeostasis through different pathways, leading to addressing metabolic issues in transition cows.

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