Supplemental Herbal Choline Increases 5-hmC DNA on Whole Blood from Pregnant Ewes and Offspring

Abstract

Herbal formulas during pregnancy have been used in developing countries. Despite that, the potential effects on the mother and offspring and whether those supplements elicit epigenetic modifications is still unknown. Therefore, our objectives were to determine the effects of supplemental herbal choline source (BCho) on the percentage of 5-hmC in whole blood from gestating ewes and their offspring, as well as determining the milk quality and growth of the offspring. Thirty-five gestating Rambouillet ewes were randomly assigned to five treatments: T1, supplementation of 4 g per day (gd−1) of BCho during the first third of gestation; T2, supplementation of 4 gd−1 of BCho during the second third of gestation; T3, supplementation of 4 gd−1 of BCho during the last third of gestation; T4, supplementation of 4 gd−1 of BCho throughout gestation; and T5, no BCho supplementation (control). For the 5-hmC DNA analysis, whole blood from ewes was sampled before pregnancy and at each third of gestation (50 days). Whole blood from lambs was sampled five weeks after birth. The evaluation of the nutritional programming effects was conducted through the percentages of 5-hmC in the lambs. Compared with other treatments, the whole blood from ewes supplemented during T1 and T4 had the greatest 5-hmC percentages (p < 0.05). However, only ewes fed BCho throughout gestation (T4) maintained the greatest percentages of 5-hmC (p < 0.05). The lamb growth performance indicated that the BCho maternal supplementation did not affect the nutritional programming. However, the lambs born from ewes supplemented during T2 had the greatest 5-hmC percentages (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that ewes supplemented during T4 with BCho increase and maintain the percentages of 5-hmC in whole blood, and the offspring born from ewes supplemented with BCho during T2 maintained the greatest percentages of 5-hmC 35 d after they were born.

Recommendation of Choline Inclusion in Lambs’ Diet

“…Crosby et al (2017) observed that supplementation of ewes with 4 g/day of herbal choline from 30 days before and until 30 days after the birth increased the lamb's birth weight, the milk production, and the content of oleic fatty acid in the milk. Roque-Jiménez et al (2020) hypothesized that the active compounds of herbal choline have epigenetic properties that could impact the fetal development and growth of the offspring of ewes supplemented during the entire gestation with 4 g/day; however, they only observed increments in milk production, quality of colostrum, and milk. Godinez-Cruz et al (2015) attempted to compare the synthetic and herbal choline in fattening lambs without clear results, since when supplementing with 4 g/kg DM from both sources in sheep they found null effects on the productive response.…”

Effects of an Herbal Source of Choline on Diet Digestibility and Palatability, Blood Lipid Profile, Liver Morphology, and Cardiac Function in Dogs

“…The plants Trachyspermum ammi , Citrullus colocynthis , Achyranthes aspera , and Azadirachta indica present the conjugated form of choline—with high concentrations of phosphatidylcholine—and are potential alternative sources to the chloride [ 4 ]. In addition to not having the same undesirable properties as choline chloride, these herbal additives have functional metabolites that benefit animals’ health [ 5 , 6 ]. Furthermore, they can be used in organic foods or in those with a ‘natural’ advertising appeal [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Herbal Vitamin C Prevents DNA Oxidation and Modifies the Metabolomic Water Profile of Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)

“…Thus, alternative sources of feedstuff should be evaluated to maximize animal production [ 18 , 19 ]. Recently, research that focused on using herbal feed additives has reported beneficial effects on livestock [ 20 ]. Herbal feed additives have been reported with different bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, polyphenols, isothiocyanates, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids, all of which can stimulate the immune system [ 21 ].…”