Effect of beta-lactoglobulin on plasma retinol and triglyceride concentrations, and fatty acid composition in calves.

Abstract

Beta-lactoglobulin (beta-lg) is the main protein of ruminant milk whey. Although beta-lg can bind in vitro to a variety of hydrophobic substrates, mainly retinol and long-chain fatty acids, its physiological function is still unknown. In Exp. 1, we investigated the effect of beta-lg on the plasma retinol concentration in preruminant calves. Holstein male calves (n = 20) were fed Holstein whole milk at 40 g/kg body weight (BW) plus vitamin A acetate (500,000 i.u.) with or without beta-lg (0.4 g/kg BW). The plasma retinol concentration of 10-d-old calves was greater (P < 0.05) in the beta-lg-fed group) than in the control group during the period from 8 to 12 h and at 24 h after the feeding. The postprandial change of plasma retinol in 40-d-old calves fed milk with beta-lg was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control calves only at 12 h after the feeding. In Exp. 2, Holstein male calves (n = 18) were used to investigate the effect of beta-lg on plasma triglyceride concentration and fatty acid composition. Calves were fed Holstein whole milk at 40 g/kg BW plus milk fat prepared from whole milk at 2 g/kg BW with or without beta-lg (0.4 g/kg BW). Plasma triglyceride concentration at age 10 d was higher (P < 0.05) in the beta-lg-fed group than in the controls during the periods from 1 to 2 h and from 7 to 11 h after the feeding. At age 40 d, plasma triglyceride in the beta-lg-fed group was higher (P < 0.05) than in the control group only at 9 h. Ratios of palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids to total plasma lipids were higher (P < 0.05) in the calves fed beta-lg milk than in the control calves at age 10 d. These results suggest that beta-lg enhances the intestinal uptake of retinol, triglyceride, and long-chain fatty acids in preruminant calves.

• Authors: S Kushibiki, K Hodate, J Kurisaki, H Shingu, Y Ueda, A Watanabe, M Shinoda
• Journal: The Journal of dairy research (J Dairy Res) Vol. 68 Issue 4 Pg. 579-86 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 0022-0299 [Print] England
• PMID: 11928954 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Fatty Acids
• Lactoglobulins
• Lipids
• Stearic Acids
• Triglycerides
• Vitamin A
• Oleic Acid
• Palmitic Acid
• stearic acid

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn (blood)
• Body Weight
• Cattle (blood)
• Diet
• Fatty Acids (blood)
• Kinetics
• Lactoglobulins (pharmacology)
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Milk
• Oleic Acid (blood)
• Palmitic Acid (blood)
• Stearic Acids (blood)
• Triglycerides (blood)
• Vitamin A (blood)