The Importance of B Vitamins in Enhanced Precision Nutrition of Dairy Cows: The Case of Folates and Vitamin B12

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane L. Girard ◽  
Mélissa Duplessis
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Vitamin Supplementation ◽  
Metabolic Efficiency ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Cow Performance ◽  
B Vitamin

Dairy cow diets are generally balanced for energy and major nutrients with B vitamins generally assumed not to be limiting, in spite of their role as coenzymes, essential to many metabolic reactions in protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Assuming adequacy of B-vitamin supply may explain some of the discrepancies between the outcomes of metabolic prediction models and measured cow performance. In lactating dairy cow, the amount of B vitamins from the diet and synthesized by the ruminal microbiota is generally sufficient to prevent deficiency symptoms and, as such, is assumed to fulfill requirements. However, reports of beneficial effects of B-vitamin supplementation on dairy cow performance suggest that B-vitamin supply is sometimes lower than its needs, as an insufficient B-vitamin supply decreases metabolic efficiency by driving a shift towards alternative metabolic pathways with greater energy cost. Using information on folates and vitamin B12 illustrated how meeting dairy cow needs for B vitamins should not be overlooked in formulation of rations for lactating dairy cattle. The present review discusses current knowledge and indicates areas presently impeded by the lack of research results, especially the limitations on the ability to estimate B vitamin need and supply.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal variability in the response of phytoplankton and prokaryotes to B-vitamin amendments in an upwelling system

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 2807-2823
Author(s):  
Vanessa Joglar ◽  
Antero Prieto ◽  
Esther Barber-Lluch ◽  
Marta Hernández-Ruiz ◽  
Emilio Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Growth Stimulation ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Inorganic Nutrients ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Coastal Station ◽  
Chl A ◽  
B Vitamin ◽  
Microbial Plankton

Abstract. We experimentally evaluated the temporal (interday and interseason) and spatial variability in microbial plankton responses to vitamin B12 and/or B1 supply (solely or in combination with inorganic nutrients) in coastal and oceanic waters of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Phytoplankton and, to a lesser extent, prokaryotes were strongly limited by inorganic nutrients. Interday variability in microbial plankton responses to B vitamins was limited compared to interseason variability, suggesting that B-vitamin availability might be partially controlled by factors operating at seasonal scale. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration and prokaryote biomass (PB) significantly increased after B-vitamin amendments in 13 % and 21 %, respectively, of the 216 cases (36 experiments × 6 treatments). Most of these positive responses were produced by treatments containing either B12 solely or B12 combined with B1 in oceanic waters, which was consistent with the significantly lower average vitamin-B12 ambient concentrations compared to that in the coastal station. Negative responses, implying a decrease in Chl a or PB, represented 21 % for phytoplankton and 26 % for prokaryotes. Growth stimulation by B1 addition was more frequent on prokaryotes than in phytoplankton, suggesting that B1 auxotrophy in the sampling area could be more widespread in prokaryotes than in phytoplankton. Negative responses to B vitamins were generalized in coastal surface waters in summer and were associated with a high contribution of Flavobacteriales to the prokaryote community. This observation suggests that the external supply of B12 and/or B1 may promote negative interactions between microbial components when B-vitamin auxotrophs are abundant. The microbial response patterns to B12 and/or B1 amendments were significantly correlated with changes in the prokaryotic community composition, highlighting the pivotal role of prokaryotes in B-vitamin cycling in marine ecosystems.

scholarly journals B-vitamins and prevention of dementia

2008 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Vitamin Supplementation ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Principal Investigators ◽  
Individual Participant ◽  
B Vitamin

Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations have been implicated with risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, but it is unclear whether low vitamin B12 or folate status is responsible for cognitive decline. Most studies reporting associations between cognitive function and Hcy or B-vitamins have used a cross-sectional or case–control design and have been unable to exclude the possibility that such associations are a result of the disease rather than being causal. The Hcy hypothesis of dementia has attracted considerable interest, as Hcy can be easily lowered by folic acid and vitamin B12, raising the prospect that B-vitamin supplementation could lower the risk of dementia. While some trials assessing effects on cognitive function have used folic acid alone, vitamin B12 alone or a combination, few trials have included a sufficient number of participants to provide reliable evidence. An individual-patient-data meta-analysis of all randomised trials of the effects on cognitive function and vascular risk of lowering Hcy with B-vitamins will maximise the power to assess the epidemiologically-predicted differences in risk. Among the twelve large randomised Hcy-lowering trials for prevention of vascular disease, data should be available on about 30 000 participants with cognitive function. The principal investigators of such trials have agreed to combine individual-participant data from their trials after their separate publication.

scholarly journals Vitamin supplementation by gut symbionts ensures metabolic homeostasis in an insect host

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1796) ◽  
pp. 20141838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Salem ◽  
Eugen Bauer ◽  
Anja S. Strauss ◽  
Heiko Vogel ◽  
Manja Marz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Vitamin B1 ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Vitamin Supplementation ◽  
Metabolic Homeostasis ◽  
Functional Importance ◽  
Gut Microbes ◽  
Gut Symbionts ◽  
B Vitamin

Despite the demonstrated functional importance of gut microbes, our understanding of how animals regulate their metabolism in response to nutritionally beneficial symbionts remains limited. Here, we elucidate the functional importance of the African cotton stainer's ( Dysdercus fasciatus ) association with two actinobacterial gut symbionts and subsequently examine the insect's transcriptional response following symbiont elimination. In line with bioassays demonstrating the symbionts' contribution towards host fitness through the supplementation of B vitamins, comparative transcriptomic analyses of genes involved in import and processing of B vitamins revealed an upregulation of gene expression in aposymbiotic (symbiont-free) compared with symbiotic individuals; an expression pattern that is indicative of B vitamin deficiency in animals. Normal expression levels of these genes, however, can be restored by either artificial supplementation of B vitamins into the insect's diet or reinfection with the actinobacterial symbionts. Furthermore, the functional characterization of the differentially expressed thiamine transporter 2 through heterologous expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes confirms its role in cellular uptake of vitamin B1. These findings demonstrate that despite an extracellular localization, beneficial gut microbes can be integral to the host's metabolic homeostasis, reminiscent of bacteriome-localized intracellular mutualists.

One year B-vitamins increases serum and whole blood folate forms and lowers plasma homocysteine in older Germans

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne H. Kirsch ◽  
Wolfgang Herrmann ◽  
Vera Kruse ◽  
Rudolf Eckert ◽  
Stefan Gräber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Baseline Level ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Vitamin Supplementation ◽  
Baseline Serum ◽  
One Year ◽  
B Vitamin

AbstractWe aimed to study the effect of long-term supplementation of B-vitamins on folate forms in serum and whole blood (WB) in elderly German subjects.59 participants (mean age 67 years) were randomized to daily receive either vitamin DB-vitamins supplementation for 6 months led to higher concentrations of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methylTHF) in serum (mean 49.1 vs. 19.6 nmol/L) and WB (1332 vs. 616 nmol/L). Also non-methyl-folate concentrations in serum and WB were higher after 6 months with B-vitamins supplementation. Unmetabolized folic acid (UFA) increased after supplementation. tHcy concentration was lowered after 1 year of B-vitamin supplementation (mean 13.1 vs. 9.6 μmol/L). A stronger reduction of tHcy after 1 year was found in participants who had baseline level >12.5 μmol/L (mean 17.0 vs. 11.9 μmol/L) compared to those with baseline tHcy lower than this limit (mean 9.1 vs. 7.4 μmol/L). In contrast, the increases in serum and WB 5-methylTHF were comparable between the two groups.One year B-vitamins supplementation increased the levels of 5-methylTHF and non-methyl-folate in serum and WB, normalized tHcy, but caused an increase in the number of cases with detectable UFA in serum. Lowering of tHcy was predicted by baseline tHcy, but not by baseline serum or WB 5-methylTHF.

Lowering of Homocysteine Concentrations in Elderly Men and Women

1999 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brönstrup ◽  
Hages ◽  
Pietrzik
Keyword(s):  
Low Dose ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Vitamin Supplementation ◽  
Entire Treatment Period ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Total Homocysteine ◽  
B Vitamin ◽  
Plasma Total Homocysteine

B-vitamin supplementation has previously been shown to lower the concentration of plasma total homocysteine, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Little is known about the homocysteine-lowering effects of low-dose B-vitamins in elderly individuals, who are prone to higher homocysteine levels due to advanced age and a greater frequency of impaired vitamin status. We aimed to identify if and to what extent B-vitamins lower total homocysteine and its subfractions in elderly individuals. Men and women (>= 60 years) received either B-vitamins (400 mug folic acid +1.65 mg pyridoxine +3 mug cyanocobalamin) or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. Subjects in the vitamin group showed a significant decrease in plasma total homocysteine during the first 2 weeks; thereafter, total homocysteine only slightly decreased further resulting in a geometric mean reduction of –16.3% (95% CI: –11.3% to –21.0%) over the entire treatment period. Free homocysteine decreased as well. However, the observed higher ratio of free/total homocysteine after 4 weeks of supplementation suggest a more pronounced reduction in protein-bound homocysteine. Low-dose B-vitamin supplementation is effective in lowering homocysteine in elderly individuals. Further studies are needed to be able to depict the effect of B-vitamin supplementation on different homocysteine subfractions in plasma.

Impact of B-vitamin supply on major metabolic pathways of lactating dairy cows

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Girard ◽  
J. J. Matte
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Metabolic Efficiency ◽  
B Vitamin

Knowledge of the major nutrient requirements of dairy cows has increased substantially during the past decades. Little is known, however, about the importance of the roles played by B vitamins. Since most of those vitamins act as essential cofactors in energy, protein and lipid metabolism, it is likely that as milk yield increases, the demand for these cofactors also increases. The supply of B vitamins from dietary sources and synthesis by the ruminal microflora is generally sufficient to avoid deficiency symptoms, but could be insufficient for optimizing metabolic efficiency, production, composition and the nutritional quality of milk in high-producing dairy cows. Results from recent experiments show how the supply of three B vitamins — folic acid, biotin and vitamin B12 — affects major metabolic pathways. Supplementary biotin has frequently been reported to increase milk yield but has a limited effect on milk composition. Folic acid supplements have been found to increase milk and milk protein yields in multiparous cows without affecting dry matter intake when vitamin B12 supply was adequate. An insufficient vitamin B12 supply blocked those effects but they can be restored through vitamin B12 supplementation. Supplemental vitamin B12 and biotin increased milk and milk protein yields without changing dry matter intake. Vitamin B12 utilization by tissues increased in cows fed supplementary folic acid simultaneously; plasma glucose also increased in these cows but plasma biotin decreased. From these findings, it appears that, in high-producing dairy cows, especially in early lactation, the strong competition for nutrients that occurs between gluconeogenesis, methylneogenesis and protein synthesis increases the amount of folic acid, vitamin B12 and biotin required to maintain metabolic efficiency, especially when the nutrient supply is limited. These observations emphasize the need to review the paradigm according to which B-vitamin supply by ruminal microflora cannot be limiting in dairy cow. Key words: Dairy cow, B vitamins, folic acid, vitamin B12, biotin, lactation, metabolism

Comparative Review of the Thiochrome, Microbial and Protozoan Analyses of B-Vitamins

1978 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 730-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL N. VOIGT ◽  
RONALD R. EITENMILLER
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Pantothenic Acid ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Vitamin Status ◽  
Comparative Review ◽  
Specific Stimulation ◽  
B Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin Analysis

A comparative review of the specificities of various B-vitamin analysis methods is presented. Methods of vitamin analysis employing protozoa, viz. Tetrahymena and Ochromonas, are compared to the commonly used methods of vitamin assay, including officially accepted methods. Since 1968 the protozoan techniques have routinely been used to evaluate clinical vitamin status. This is due to their more mammalian-like response to the various forms of the vitamins that occur in natural materials. Protozoa have more developed ingestive and digestive systems than bacteria and yeast, which allow them to respond to conjugated forms of the vitamins (e.g. thiamin pyrophosphate and folic acid polyglutamates). Also, fewer problems are encountered with non-specific stimulation (e.g. fatty acid stimulation of the Lactobacillus casei assay for riboflavin or the sparing of the vitamin B12 requirement of Lactobacillus leichmannii by deoxyribosides). Application of the protozoan methods to analysis of foods indicate significantly lower levels of biotin and vitamin B12 than official methods, while significantly higher levels of riboflavin, vitamin B6, niacin and pantothenic acid are found in low-acid foods. This review also summarizes extraction methods for the B-vitamins from food samples and indicates the importance of enzymatic hydrolysis in extract preparation.

scholarly journals Homocysteine-lowering vitamins do not lower plasmaS-adenosylhomocysteine in older people with elevated homocysteine concentrations

2010 ◽  
Vol 103 (11) ◽  
pp. 1629-1634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Green ◽  
C. Murray Skeaff ◽  
Jennifer A. McMahon ◽  
Bernard J. Venn ◽  
Sheila M. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Vascular Disease ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Vitamin Supplementation ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Elevated Plasma ◽  
Vascular Events ◽  
Folate Supplementation ◽  
Plasma Thcy ◽  
B Vitamin

Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for vascular disease but lowering tHcy with B-vitamins, including folate, has generally not reduced vascular events in secondary prevention trials. Elevated plasmaS-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) concentration may be a more sensitive indicator of vascular disease than plasma tHcy. However, unlike tHcy, plasma AdoHcy did not correlate with folate concentration in one study indicating that folate supplementation may not lower AdoHcy. Our aim was to determine whether providing B-vitamin supplements to healthy older people with elevated tHcy (>13 μmol/l) affects plasma AdoHcy andS-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) concentrations. Healthy older participants (n276; ≥ 65 years) were randomised to receive a daily supplement containing folate (1 mg), vitamin B12(500 μg) and vitamin B6(10 mg), or placebo, for 2 years. Of these participants, we selected the first fifty participants in each treatment group and measured plasma AdoHcy and AdoMet. Plasma tHcy was 4·4 (95 % CI 3·2, 5·6;P < 0·001) μmol/l lower at 2 years in the vitamins group compared with the placebo group. At 2 years, there were no significant differences in plasma AdoMet (+4 % (95 % CI − 2, 11);P = 0·19), AdoHcy ( − 1 % (95 % CI − 10, 8);P = 0·61) or the AdoMet:AdoHcy ratio (0·22 (95 % CI − 0·04, 0·49);P = 0·10) between the two groups. In conclusion, B-vitamin supplementation of older people lowered plasma tHcy but had no effect on plasma AdoMet or AdoHcy concentration. If elevated plasma AdoHcy is detrimental, this may explain why B-vitamins have generally failed to reduce vascular events in clinical trials.

scholarly journals Metabolic Therapy of Heart Failure: Is There a Future for B Vitamins?

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Jérôme Piquereau ◽  
Solène E. Boitard ◽  
Renée Ventura-Clapier ◽  
Mathias Mericskay
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Vitamin Supplementation ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Cardiac Energy Metabolism ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
B Vitamin

Heart failure (HF) is a plague of the aging population in industrialized countries that continues to cause many deaths despite intensive research into more effective treatments. Although the therapeutic arsenal to face heart failure has been expanding, the relatively short life expectancy of HF patients is pushing towards novel therapeutic strategies. Heart failure is associated with drastic metabolic disorders, including severe myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction and systemic nutrient deprivation secondary to severe cardiac dysfunction. To date, no effective therapy has been developed to restore the cardiac energy metabolism of the failing myocardium, mainly due to the metabolic complexity and intertwining of the involved processes. Recent years have witnessed a growing scientific interest in natural molecules that play a pivotal role in energy metabolism with promising therapeutic effects against heart failure. Among these molecules, B vitamins are a class of water soluble vitamins that are directly involved in energy metabolism and are of particular interest since they are intimately linked to energy metabolism and HF patients are often B vitamin deficient. This review aims at assessing the value of B vitamin supplementation in the treatment of heart failure.

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