Vitamin E and Selenium Supplementation Reduces Plasma Cortisol and Oxidative Stress in Dystocia-Affected Buffaloes

• Published in: Veterinary research communications Vol. 31; no. 7; pp. 809 - 818
• Main Authors: Sathya, A, Prabhakar, S, Sangha, S. P. S, Ghuman, S. P. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01-10-2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: animal diseases; Animals; antioxidants; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; biomarkers; blood chemistry; buffaloes; Buffaloes - physiology; cortisol; diet therapy; Dietary Supplements; dystocia; Dystocia - drug therapy; Dystocia - veterinary; Female; females; glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - blood; Hydrocortisone - blood; inflammation; malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - blood; oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; physiological response; postpartum period; Pregnancy; protective effect; selenium; Selenium - administration & dosage; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - blood; Time Factors; vitamin E; Vitamin E - administration & dosage; vitamin-mineral supplements
• ISSN: 0165-7380; 1573-7446
• DOI: 10.1007/s11259-007-0116-2

The aim of the study was to evaluate oxidative stress around parturition in normally calved and dystocia-affected buffaloes and the clinical efficacy of vitamin E and selenium (Se) in reducing the effects in buffaloes suffering from dystocia. Plasma cortisol concentration, erythrocytic malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were evaluated in dystocia-affected (supplemented (n = 8) and unsupplemented (n = 5) with vitamin E and Se) and normally calved (unsupplemented; n = 6) buffaloes. The decline in plasma cortisol concentration, MDA level and SOD activity was greater in the group of dystocia-affected buffaloes supplemented with vitamin E and Se (78.62 ± 2.7%, 13.38 ± 9.75% and 28.83 ± 7.72%, respectively) than in the unsupplemented group (54.33 ± 12.62%, 3.48 ± 4.16% and 17.69 ± 12.93%, respectively). These results suggests that supplementation with antioxidants like vitamin E and Se may be beneficial in reducing oxidative stress in dystocia-affected buffaloes in the immediate postpartum period.