Blood serum Vitamin A and E concentrations and distribution into lipoprotein fractions of pregnant sheep and newborn lambs

Abstract

In this study, the vitamin A and E concentrations in plasma and their distribution in VLDL/LDL fractions were determined by HPLC over a period of 5 weeks after parturition in ewes (10 crossbreed Sakiz sheep) and their progeny. In order to test the vitamin A and E supply by colostrums, newburns were divided into 2 equal groups (n = 10): the SL groups (new-born suckling their mothers) and the AFL group (new-borns were separated from their mothers immediately after birth and were fed with full fat milk). All lambs were progressively adapted to food based on dry grass and concentrates. The plasma vitamin A and E concentrations markedly fell in ewes at parturition and 3 days after (p < 0.01), thereafter gradually increased for significantly exceeding the initial values (10 days before parturition). The effecets of feeding art (FA) and day on vitamin A level were significant (p<0,00 1). The effect of FA x Day interaction on vitamin A level was also significant (p<0,01).While the effect of FA on vitamin E level was highly significant (p<0,001).The effect of day was significant at p<0,01 level. On the other hand the effect of FA x Day interaction on vitamin E level was not significant (p<0,05). Moreover, mortality and delayed growth were also recorded in this group. The vitamin A bound to lipoproteins was not detected nor in ewes, neither in new-borns. These results show that colostrum is the main source of fat-soluble vitamins (A and E) for new-borns otherwise a vitamin deficiency may occur and that an early food diversification may restore fat-soluble vitamin supply and limit the severity of the deficiency.