Effect of Long-term Fluoride Exposure on Growth, Nutrient Utilization and Fluoride Kinetics of Calves Fed Graded Levels of Dietary Protein

Abstract

In order to assess the influence of dietary protein levels on the fluoride (F) bioavailability, 30 crossbred calves (6-8 months; approximately 104 kg BW) initially exposed to different dietary protein levels were allotted into six groups in a 3 × 2 factorial design. The factors included three different levels of protein viz. normal (100%; NP), low (75%; LP), and high (125%; HP) as per Kearl recommendations besides two levels of supplemental fluorine (as sodium fluoride) at 0 or 200 mg/kg diet. The animals were fed on the respective concentrate mixture and wheat straw for 210 days. A metabolism trial was conducted at 200 days post-feeding to study digestibility, plane of nutrition, and nutrient balances. The final body weight at the end of 210 days was lower (p < 0.01) in animals fed 200 mg/kg F (164.2 ± 8.92 kg) compared to those fed no F (200.7 ± 8.05 kg). Calves on LP diets attained lower (p < 0.05) average daily gain in comparison to NP or HP fed calves. The F-supplemented calves exhibited lower (p < 0.01) voluntary feed intake than their non-supplemented control. The digestibility of proximate nutrients other than ether extract exhibited higher (p < 0.01) values in F-fed calves attributable chiefly to reduced consumption of dry matter. The calves fed extra F retained lower mean daily nitrogen; calcium, and phosphorus compared to the calves fed no F. The mean daily intake, excretion, and retention of F were higher (p < 0.01) in the F-supplemented calves. A significant (p < 0.01) interaction between protein levels and F was evident in the urinary excretion of F; calves on LP diet exhibiting lower urinary excretion. Consequently, the bioavailability of F tended to be higher on LP than NP or HP diets. From the results, it is concluded that protein levels in the diet do not impart significant influence on susceptibility to fluorosis in crossbred calves. However, the bioavailability of F tended to increase on diets low in protein.

Effects of addition of fluorine in diets differing in protein content on urinary fluoride excretion, clinical chemistry and thyroid hormones in calves

“…The dietary intake of F was 82.7, 86.0, and 82.6 mg/d and 615.8, 579.8 and 589.1 mg/d for NP, LP, and HP diets without and with F, respectively, which had been previously reported (Lohakare et al, 2010).…”

“…Dietary protein levels as such have been shown to affect performance of crossbred calves (Lohakare et al, 2006) and diets low in protein may accentuate F retention and toxicity and retard growth in calves (Lohakare et al, 2010;2011).…”

Amelioration of chronic fluoride toxicity by calcium and fluoride-free water in rats

“…Apart from these well-defined clinical symptoms, reduced food intake and body weight gain (BWG) have been observed in F-fed animals ( 5 – 8 ) . However, other studies did not show any difference in BWG ( 9 ) in F-fed animals.…”

Fluoride Sources, Toxicity and Its Amelioration: A Review

“…In Animals: Chronic exposure to F induces an array of deleterious impacts in livestock animals, experimental animals, as well as humans also [6,97,98]. First symptoms of chronic F toxicity in animals are reduced feed intake and body weight gain (BWG) loss [19,22]. Prolonged exposure to F causes fl uorosis, leading to a progressive degenerative disease, dental mottling and several types of skeletal dysfunctions [4].…”

“…First clinical symptoms appeared like reduced in food intake and loss of body weight gain. After attenuating the antioxidant defence mechanism, F also affect to the gastrointestinal tract, brain, muscle etc.. [19][20][21][22]. To ameliorate these effects, several types of synthetic chemicals, herbal drugs, plant bioactive molecule, and plant natural products have been incorporated in the medicinal documentary.…”