Changes of Vitamin E and A levels in Blood and Colostrum after Oral Administration of Vitamin AD₃E Premix in Cattle

Abstract

Changes in levels of serum-and red blood cell-tocopherol, and serum-vitamin A (retinol and retinyl palmitate) after oral administration of vitamin AD₃E premix were examined in calves and prepartum milk cattle of the Holstein breed. In the milk cattle, levels of tocopherol and vitamin A in the colostrum and serum of newborn calves were also examined.
In the calves, tocopherol levels of serum and red blood cell after administration of 1, 000 IU (about 10 IU/kg) of vitamin E were not increased, but both tocopherol levels after administration of 2, 500 IU (about 25IU/kg) increased markedly from 8 to 72 hours following administration. The serum levels of vitamin A increased slightly by administration of 200, 000 IU (about 2, 040 IU/kg) of vitamin A. However, a significant increase of serum vitamin A level was observed from 2 to 48 hours after the administration of 500, 000 IU (about 5, 102 IU/kg).
In the prepartum milk cattle, tocopherol levels of serum and red blood cell increased slightly by administration of 12, 500 IU (about 22 IU/kg) of vitamin E. Both tocopherol levels after administration of 25, 000 IU (about 44 IU/kg) of vitamin E increased significantly from 4 to 72 hours, and tocopherol levels of colostrum and serum of newborn calves just after parturition also increased markedly. Vitamin A levels of serum increased markedly from 2 to 24 hours after administration of 2, 500, 000 IU (about 4, 468 IU/kg) or 5, 000, 000 IU (about 8, 928 IU/kg) of vitamin A. Although an increase of vitamin A levels was observed in colostrum, no increase of the levels in serum of newborn calves just after birth was observed.
From the findings described above, it was clarified that a significant increase in blood tocopherol levels by oral administration of dl-a-tocopherol acetate is attained by doses over 25 IU/kg in calf and 44 IU/kg in prepartum milk cattle.