Abstract #W349

# W349
The determination of the concentrations of isoforms of vitamin E in tissues, milk and blood via HPLC after short-term feeding in dairy cows.
Y. Qu*1, T. H. Elsasser2, J. R. Newbold3, E. E. Conner2, K. M. Moyes1, 1University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 3Cargill Innovation Center, Velddriel, the Netherlands.

The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of change in the concentrations of the 4 isoforms of vitamin E (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherol) in bovine tissues (liver, mammary and muscle), blood and milk after short-term feeding of a vegetable-derived oil (Tmix) particularly enriched with γ- and δ-isoforms (9% α-, 1% β-, 24% δ- and 62% γ-tocopherol). Healthy multiparous Holstein cows (>90 DIM) were assigned to dietary control (Notoc, n = 4) or tocopherol-fed treatment groups (n = 5: TOC;~260g Tmix/cow/d, top-dressed) for 9 consecutive days. Milk and blood samples were collected in the mornings on d 0 and d 10 from the 5 TOC cows; tissues were harvested from those same cows on d 10 of treatment and the cohort of physiologically similar Notoc cows. Isoform concentrations were determined in samples by HPLC. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test and ANOVA. Delta-TOC was not detected in tissues, blood or milk. Concentrations of γ-TOC were increased (P < 0.001) in tissues, blood and milk with feeding (P < 0.001). In all tissues, α-TOC concentrations were higher (P < 0.001) than γ-TOC before and after feeding. Concentrations of both α- and γ-TOC were higher in blood and milk after feeding Tmix (P < 0.05). The content of α-TOC was higher than γ-TOC (P < 0.001) in milk and blood before and after feeding. In conclusion, short-term feeding of Tmix oil resulted in increases in the γ-isoform, largely no measurable content or significant change in the β- or δ-isoforms, and a variable change in the α-isoform of TOC across various tissues and biological fluids of the cow.

Key Words: concentration, cow, vitamin E