Effects of niacin supplementation on the insulin resistance in Holstein cows during early lactation

Abstract

Insulin resistance in early lactation includes low glucose concentration, low insulin release and responsiveness and high lipolysis. Niacin is important antilipolytic agent and leads to increase glucose and insulin concentration. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of niacin on the insulin resistance in cows during early lactation using the difference of value and regression analysis between blood non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), glucose and insulin concentrations, revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index and glucose-to-insulin ratio. Niacin supplementation led to a decrease of NEFA concentration and an increase of glucose and insulin concentrations during the first three weeks after calving. Cows in the niacin group which were more resistant to insulin showed higher concentrations of non-esterified fatty acid in comparison with more sensitive cows from the same group, but still lower than the control. The regression analyses suggest the following characteristics of cows supplemented with niacin in comparison with the control group: the insulin response to glucose was more intense; the antilipolytic effect of insulin was lower; insulin efficiency expressed as glucose-to-insulin ratio increase with a decrease in NEFA. The metabolic changes due to niacin supplementation showed a dual influence on the insulin resistance in dairy cows during early lactation: decreased NEFA concentrations led to a decrease in the insulin resistance (due to an increase in insulin efficiency and insulin sensitivity index), but increased concentrations of insulin and glucose possibly caused an increase in the insulin resistance in dairy cows (due to lower insulin sensitivity index and possibly lower antilipolytic effects of insulin).

Niacin nutrition and rumen-protected niacin supplementation in dairy cows: an updated review

“…Plasma NEFA can be partially oxidised to form BHBA or esterified to be stored in the liver as TAG (39) . As expected, Hristovska et al (45) and Wei et al (46) found the plasma BHBA concentration decreased after niacin supplementation. Similar to plasma NEFA concentration, abomasal infusion of niacin Horner et al (25) 6 g NA/d --↑ N/A ↑ -Erickson et al (26) 12 (24) 12 g NA/d ------Christensen et al (27) 12 (28) 6 g NA/d --↑ ---Kumar & Dass (29) 100 mg NA/kg feed (30) 6 g NA/d --↑ -↑ -Niehoff et al (13) 6 g NA/d ↓ ↑ N/A ↓ --Luo et al (31) 320 mg NA/kg feed decreased plasma BHBA concentration, and the rebound of plasma BHBA concentration after termination of infusion was found in feed-restricted dairy cows (50,51) .…”

“…It is likely that niacin supplementation level may play a role in the antilipolytic effect in dairy cows. In early lactation, the relatively low dosages of free nicotinic acid or nicotinamide supplementation (6-24 g/d) in studies summarised by Niehoff et al (5) and two more recent studies (47,48) demonstrated only minor effects, whereas 12 g/d of RPN (16,44) , 45 g/d of nicotinamide (46) or 120 g/d of nicotinic acid (45) supplementation demonstrated a greater influence on plasma NEFA concentration. The extensive degradation of free niacin in the rumen may partly explain the lack of effects when a low level of nicotinic acid was supplemented.…”

“…Circulating NEFA is an important indicator of adipose mobilisation and metabolic health in dairy cows (43) . In some studies (44)(45)(46) , supplementation of nicotinic acid, RPN or nicotinamide during transition periods was reported to decrease the plasma NEFA concentration, but in some other studies (17,47,48) supplementation had no influence (Table 4). Additionally, Morey et al (16) reported that 12 g/d RPN supplementation in early lactation decreased peak plasma NEFA concentration but did not affect the average plasma NEFA concentration.…”

Insulin resistance in cows during the periparturient period (review)

“…Treatment with niacin caused dual changes in insulin resistance: decreased NEFA concentrations led to a decrease in insulin resistance (due to an increase in both insulin efficiency and the insulin sensitivity index), but increased concentrations of insulin and glucose possibly caused an increase in insulin resistance in dairy cows (due to the lower insulin sensitivity index and possibly lower antilipolytic effects of insulin) (Hristovska et al, 2017).…”

Revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index: associations with the metabolic status of cows during early lactation

“…Also, the RQUICKI is highly determined by NEFA during early lactation (CINCOVIĆ et al, 2014). HRISTOVSKA et al (2017) showed that NEFA and RQUICKI were in strong linear correlation, and in cows with a lower RQUICKI index, lower NEFA concentrations after application of niacin as an antilipolytic vitamin were established. Intravenous infusion of fat emulsion caused development of insulin resistance in Holstein-Frisian cows (PIRES et al, 2007).…”