Therapeutic Effects of Levocarnitine or Vitamin B Complex and E With Selenium on Glycerin-Treated Holstein Friesian Cows With Clinical Ketosis

Abstract

Currently, ketosis has no fully satisfactory resolution in dairy cows. Here, we investigated the effect of levocarnitine or vitamin B complex and E with selenium on clinically ketotic cows (β-hydroxybutyrate ≥ 3.0 mmol/L and decreased milk yield), fed glycerin. In total, 18 cases of Holstein cows with clinical ketosis during the postpartum transition period were randomly assigned to three treatments (6 cases per group): (1) levocarnitine (C+G), (2) vitamin B complex and E with selenium (VBES+G), and (3) levocarnitine and vitamin B complex and E with selenium (C+VBES+G). All groups were administered glycerin. Treatments were administered daily for 4 days. Blood sampling was performed on the onset day of ketosis (day 0), day 4, and day 6. β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), milk yield (MY), and serum biochemical values were measured. Half of the animals in C+G failed to overcome clinical ketosis. VBES+G treatment ameliorated BHBA (p < 0.05), MY, and glucose on day 4. However, ketosis was exacerbated following the discontinuation of the treatment. C+VBES+G treatment improved BHBA, glucose (p < 0.05), and MY and reduced ketotic cases on days 4 and 6 with greater improvements compared to the others. In conclusion, combined treatment with levocarnitine, vitamin B complex and E with selenium, and glycerin may have the therapeutic effect on clinical ketosis.

Keywords: clinical ketosis; dairy cattle; glycerin; levocarnitine; selenium; therapeutic effect; vitamin B; vitamin E.

Figure 1

Scheme of this study: Administration of medicine in therapeutic treatments, collection of blood in blood sampling, and measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and milk yield.

Figure 2

BHBA and glucose concentrations by group and time. The BHBA and glucose concentration were measured on the pre-treatment day (Day 0), and on 1 day (Day 4) and 3 days (Day 6) after the last treatment day. C+G = levocarnitine and glycerin, VBES+G = vitamin B complex, vitamin E with selenium, and glycerin, C+VBES+G = levocarnitine, vitamin B complex, vitamin E with selenium, and glycerin. Data are indicated as the mean ± standard deviation. ^***p < 0.001; ^**p < 0.01; ^*p < 0.05.

Figure 3

Daily milk yield and change in daily milk yield compared with the onset day of ketosis. The value of Av L3 indicates the average of daily milk yields for the last 3 days before the onset day of ketosis. The values on days 0, 4, and 6 indicates daily milk yields on the pre-treatment day, 1 day after the last treatment day, and 3 days after the last treatment day, respectively. C+G = levocarnitine and glycerin, VBES+G = vitamin B complex, vitamin E with selenium, and glycerin, C+VBES+G = levocarnitine, vitamin B complex, vitamin E with selenium, and glycerin. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation.

Figure 4

Total protein, albumin, globulin, non-esterified fatty acids, triglyceride, total bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase on the pre-treatment day (Day 0), and on 1 day (Day 4) and 3 days (Day 6) after the last treatment day. C+G = levocarnitine and glycerin, VBES+G = vitamin B complex, vitamin E with selenium, and glycerin, C+VBES+G = levocarnitine, vitamin B complex, vitamin E with selenium, and glycerin. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. ^*p < 0.05.