Veterinary medicineEffect of a combined iodine and selenium supplementation on I and Se status of cows and their calves
Introduction
Iodine (I) deficiency is recognised as an international public health problem [1]. Recently, individual country and European regulations have increased the specified I requirements for people and animals [2], [3]. I deficiency during pregnancy may impair the growth and neurodevelopment of offspring and increase infant mortality. I deficiencies are commonly reported in cattle around the world [4], [5] and are associated with abortion and stillbirth and with weak calves [6]. However, to date, few studies have investigated placental transfer of trace elements in cattle [7]. As most of the symptoms involve the offspring of deficient dams [6], it is important to obtain an evaluation of the Se and I status of the dams before calving.
Selenoenzymes of the deiodinase family regulate the levels of thyroid hormones. Consequently, as Se is required for the biosynthesis of selenocysteine-containing proteins, there is an interplay between Se and I in thyroid function [8]. However, apart from considerations of the role of these trace elements in thyroid function, this interplay has been poorly investigated, both in cattle and humans.
To assess I intake in cattle, the commonly used methods are plasma iodide (PI) assays [4], urinary I or I content in milk [9]. Changes in thyroid hormone concentration are related to thyroid function and cannot be used to assess a nutritional factor such as I [9], [10], except in extremely low and too high I supply. An increase in thyrotropin (TSH) levels has been proven to be sensitive enough in mammalian species to be useful in evaluating thyroid function. Recently, reference values for TSH and T4 have been defined in cattle [11].
For assessing Se status, plasma Se, a short-term marker [12] and glutathione-peroxidase activity in erythrocytes (GPX), a long-term marker, are used and are correlated [13], [14].
The purpose of the study was to determine the long-term effect of I and Se supplementation on non-pregnant cows, pregnant cows and their calves. The interplay between I and Se was also investigated. Testing of TRH response was included in order to obtain information regarding the function of the hypothalamus pituitary axis.
Section snippets
Materials and methods
The study was divided into 3 parts. The first part consisted of a long-term trial (120 days) where the I and Se status of pregnant and non-pregnant cows, supplemented (HISe: High I and Se) or not (LISe: Low I and Se) with Se and I, was measured. The second part involved the assessment of the I and Se status of the calves of the pregnant supplemented and un-supplemented cows. At the end of the long-term trial, after calving, a TRH challenge was performed on these cows (3rd part).
Dams
At D0 and until delivery (D60), there was no significant difference (p > 0.1) observed between pregnant and non-pregnant cows regarding PI, TSH, T4 and T3, under the same diet (other markers not assayed at D30). Thus, the data of pregnant and non-pregnant cows were mixed within the HISe and LISe groups. The comparisons between the mean values of Se, GPX, PI, I urine, TSH, T4, T3, rT3 and T4/T3 in the 2 groups of cows as well as their statistical relevance are shown in Table 2. Nutritional I
Selenium and iodine status of the cows
In order to estimate the potential common action between Se and I, the trial was conceived with a simultaneous I and Se supplementation, as it was mostly carried out in the field. However, a larger number of cows and more groups (with or without Se and/or I) would be necessary to prove this interaction. The LISe group barely met the minimal National Research Council (NRC) requirements [17] for I and Se levels in non-lactating cattle (0.33 mg I/kg DM and 0.3 mg Se/kg DM). The HISe group received
References (35)
- et al.
Epidemiology of trace elements deficiencies in Belgian beef and dairy cattle herds
J Trace Elem Med Biol
(2009) Trace elements deficiencies in cattle
Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract
(1991)- et al.
Iodine deficiency in cattle: compensatory changes in thyroidal selenoenzymes
Res Vet Sci
(1998) - et al.
Iodine in milk and meat of dairy cows fed different amounts of potassium iodide or ethylenediamine dihydroiodide
J Dairy Sci
(1990) - et al.
Plasma inorganic iodine and thyroxine concentrations for beef cows in late pregnancy and early lactation associated with different levels of dietary iodine supplementation
Vet J
(2001) - et al.
Comparative responses to sodium selenite and organic selenium supplements in Belgian Blue cows and calves
Livest Sci
(2007) - et al.
Significance of amount and form of dietary selenium on blood, milk, and casein selenium concentrations in grazing cows
J Dairy Sci
(1999) - et al.
Concentration of thyroid hormones and prolactin in dairy cattle serum and milk at three stages of lactation
J Dairy Sci
(1987) - et al.
Effect of selenium and iodine supplementation on growth rate and on thyroid and somatotropic function in dairy calves at pasture
J Dairy Sci
(1996) - et al.
Serum thyrotropin, thyroxin, and tri-iodothyronine in dairy cows fed varying amounts of iodine
J Dairy Sci
(1978)
Relationships between the thyroid and somatotropic axes in steers. I. Effects of propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism on growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone and insulin-like growth factor I
Domest Anim Endocrinol
Iodine deficiency in pregnancy and the effects of maternal iodine supplementation on the offspring: a review
Am J Clin Nutr
Projected reduction in healthcare costs in Belgium after optimization of iodine intake: impact on costs related to thyroid nodular disease
Thyroid
Prevalence of iodine, selenium, copper and cobalt deficiencies on Irish cattle farms
Ir Vet J
Effect of level and source of dietary selenium on concentrations of thyroid hormones and immunoglobulins in beef cows and calves
J Anim Sci
Development and validation of a radioimmunoassay for thyrotropin in cattle
J Vet Diagn Invest
Cited by (19)
Invited review: Iodine level in dairy products—A feed-to-fork overview
2023, Journal of Dairy ScienceDoes iodine supplementation of the prepartum dairy cow diet affect serum immunoglobulin G concentration, iodine, and health status of the calf?
2014, Journal of Dairy ScienceCitation Excerpt :The high level of iodine fed to the cows in the HI treatment group was reflected in the greater concentration of iodine in the plasma of calves of both the HI_HI and the HI_MI treatment groups when sampled at 0 h of age. Circulating iodine in the pregnant cow is readily transported to the bovine fetus (Aschbacher et al., 1966; Miller et al., 1967; Guyot et al., 2011), and thus the high level of PII in the HI_HI and the HI_MI calves is not surprising. Consistent with previous studies (Miller et al., 1967; Gilles et al., 2009), PII levels declined between 0 h and 24 h of age by 50, 50, 54, and 59% for calves in the MI_MI, SI_SI, HMI_HMI, and MI_HI treatment groups, respectively.
Metal(Loid)s in Aquatic Products and Their Potential Health Risk
2024, Exposure and HealthMetal(loid)s in aquatic products and their potential health risk
2022, Research SquareSerum concentration of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in newborn calves from cows supplemented with barium selenate
2021, Revista Colombiana de Ciencias PecuariasPrevention of Retention of Placenta in Lactating Friesian Cows with Dystocia and its Relation with their Productive and Reproductive Efficiency and Blood Constituents
2020, Journal of Animal and Poultry Production