Effects of oral supplementation with β‐carotene on concentrations of β‐carotene, vitamin A and α‐tocopherol in plasma, colostrum and milk of mares and plasma of their foals and on fertility in mares

Abstract

In this study, effects of oral β-carotene supplementation to mares (β-carotene group: 1000 mg/day, n = 15; control group: n = 15) from 2 weeks before foaling until 6 weeks thereafter on concentrations of β-carotene, vitamin A and α-tocopherol in plasma, colostrum and milk and plasma of their foals were determined. In addition, effects on fertility were studied. Beta-carotene concentrations increased in plasma and colostrum of β-carotene-supplemented mares compared to control mares (p < 0.05). In mares of both groups, β-carotene concentrations were higher in colostrum than in milk (p < 0.05). In foals, β-carotene concentrations increased with colostrum uptake and were higher in foals born to supplemented mares (p < 0.05; control group: 0.0003 ± 0.0002 μg/ml on day 0, 0.008 ± 0.0023 μg/ml on day 1; β-carotene group: 0.0005 ± 0.0003 μg/ml on day 0, 0.048 ± 0.018 μg/ml on day 1). Concentrations of vitamin A and α-tocopherol were higher in colostrum than in milk (p < 0.05) but did not differ between groups. Concentration of α-tocopherol in plasma of mares decreased over time and in foals, increased markedly within 4 days after birth. All but one mare (control group) showed oestrus within 2 weeks post-partum. Occurrence of oestrus did not differ between groups. More mares of the control group (7/7 vs. 5/12 in the β-carotene group) became pregnant after being bred in first post-partum oestrus (p < 0.05). In conclusion, β-carotene supplementation to mares increased β-carotene concentrations in plasma, colostrum and milk of mares and plasma of their foals but had no positive effects on fertility.

Carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in horse tissues: a comparison with cattle

“…Considering our data (Table 2), it is tempting to hypothesize that this metabolic regulation also occurs in mares. This hypothesis could be supported by the data of Kuhl et al (2012), who stated that a β-carotene supplementation did not increase plasma vitamin A concentrations neither in mares nor in foals.…”

Effect of farming system on donkey milk composition

“…Retinol and α ‐tocopherol in the milk samples were extracted according to the method described by Kuhl et al . with adaptations.…”

“…However, Álvarez et al 8 reported that the concentration of retinol in milk from mares grazing from a pasture was double that reported for mares fed hay. 18 Similarly, the amount of -tocopherol and retinol in cow milk was shown to approximately double when cows were fed pasture instead of conserved forages. 27 Pro-vitamin carotenoids originate from -carotene through enzymatic oxidation.…”

“…Retinol and -tocopherol in the milk samples were extracted according to the method described by Kuhl et al 18 with adaptations. The retinol and -tocopherol concentrations were quantified according to Prola et al 19 by means of a high-performance liquid chromatography system (Dionex, Sunnyvale, CA, USA).…”

Enteric, hepatic and muscle tissue development of goat kids fed with lyophilized bovine colostrum

“…Colostrum, first milk secretion after parturition, consists of products secreted by the mammary gland and elements from the bloodstream, mainly immunoglobulins (Blum and Hammom, ; Boudry and Thewis, ; Pandey et al., ). Besides being a rich source of proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins, colostrum also contains biologically active molecules, which are essential to promote growth and development of the newborns (Blum and Hammom, ; Boudry and Thewis, ; Mech et al., ; Pandey et al., ; Kuhl et al., ). The effects of bioactive peptides found in colostrum, such as insulin‐like growth factor type I (IGF‐I), on the cellular activity have been widely studied (Houle et al., ; Pauletti et al., ; Kindlein et al., ; Orihashi et al., ).…”