Effect of Dietary Difructose Anhydride III Supplementation on the Metabolic Profile of Japanese Black Breeding Herds with Low-Level Chronic Exposure to Zearalenone in the Dietary Feed

Abstract

Mycotoxin contamination in animal feed can cause acute or chronic adverse effects on growth, productivity, and immune function in livestock. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of difructose anhydride III (DFA III) supplementation on serum biochemical parameters and intestinal environment in Japanese Black (JB) breeding cows under low-level chronic dietary exposure to zearalenone (ZEN). Using urinary ZEN concentration as an indicator of exposure, 25 JB cows were selected from a breeding farm with confirmed natural feed contamination. Blood samples were collected before DFA III supplementation (day 0), and on days 20 and 40 post-supplementation. Serum biochemical parameters and short-chain fatty acid concentrations were measured. During the studies, dietary ZEN concentration increased, yet improvements were observed in liver function, nutritional status, immune response, and inflammatory markers. Notably, serum butyrate concentration significantly increased following DFA III administration. These findings suggest that DFA III may positively influence intestinal microflora and enhance intestinal barrier function, which could contribute to improved health and nutritional status in cattle exposed to low-level chronic dietary ZEN contamination. DFA III supplementation may represent a promising strategy for mitigating the effects of low-level mycotoxin exposure in livestock production systems.

Keywords: Japanese Black cattle; difructose anhydride III; intestinal barrier function; metabolic profile; zearalenone.

Figure 1

(a) ZEN/Cre concentration (mean ± SEM) in urine sample. (b) AMH and SAA concentrations in blood samples obtained on days 0, 20, and 40 after DFA III supplementation. *** indicates a significant difference (p < 0.001).

Figure 2

Nutritional condition (mean ± SEM) on days 0, 20, and 40 after difructose anhydride III supplementation. Hepatic function was assessed using glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT). The nutritional condition was evaluated by determining the concentrations of free fatty acid (FFA), total cholesterol (T-Cho), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose (Glu), triglyceride (TG), albumin (Alb), 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), and total protein (TP). Vitamin intake was determined using vitamin A (Vit. A) and vitamin E (Vit. E) concentrations. The mineral status was evaluated by determining the concentrations of calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphate (IP), and magnesium (Mg). The albumin-to-globulin (Alb: Glo) ratio was also determined. a–b; a–c, b–c indicates p < 0.01 and a–d; d–e indicates p < 0.05.

Figure 3

Concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (mean ± SEM) on days 0, 20, and 40 after difructose anhydride III supplementation. a–b; a–c, b–c indicates p < 0.01 and a–d indicates p < 0.05.

Figure 4

Schematic representation of the experimental design, sampling history, biomarkers, and ZEN contamination status in this study. *: High levels of urinary ZEN contamination were detected; →: Indicates the period between months; ZEN: zearalenone; Cre: Creatinine; JB: Japanese Black; DFA III: difructose anhydride III; AMH: anti-Müllerian Hormone; SAA: serum amyloid A; GC-MS: gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; SCFA: short-chain fatty acid.