Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation on the Level of Milk and Plasma Vitamin E and Thiobarbituric Acid Levels of Milk

Authors: Ö. HAKAN MUĞLALI, NURCAN ÇETİNKAYA, AYHAN GÜLER, UĞUR GÖGÜŞ, SERAP ULUTÜRK

Abstract: In the study, the effect of various amounts (200 and 400 mg/head) and administration routes (intra-muscular or per-os) of vitamin E on blood and milk vitamin E levels and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) levels of milk was determined. A total of 50 Akkaraman sheep with a control and four treatment groups each containing 10 animal were used in the study. Weekly intra-muscular (IM) injections were administered over two months. Blood samples were collected at 15 day intervals a month after the administration and blood and milk samples were collected weekly for two months after the end of the administrative period. In the per-os administration, vitamin E was given 200 or 400 mg per head daily. Blood and milk samples were collected at 15 day intervals during the administration period and continued for two months after the end of the administration period. The differences were statistically significant between the control and test groups for administration routes and levels of vitamin E (P<0.05, P<0.01). Also, the differences were significant between the treatment groups. Although milk vitamin E levels increased in relation to the dose of both IM or per-os administration groups, there were no statistically significant differences between the control and treatment group of 200 mg IM administration (P<0.05, P<0.01). However, differences were found to be statistically significant between the treatment groups. In conclusion, vitamin E supplementation to sheep could enhance the shelf life of milk by increasing its oxidative stability.

Keywords: Vitamin E, milk, blood, TBA, sheep

Full Text: PDF