Lecture 14 Flashcards
What element is required for the synthesis of Vitamin B12 within ruminants?
Cobalt
What is a the best source of Vitamin B12 in the diet?
Liver (except for rumen liver)
True/False
“Ruminants are able to synthesise Vitamin B12 in the diet whereas monogastrics are required to consume it preformed”
True
True/False
“Cereal grains are very good source of cobalt”
False
What is the most distinctive B12 deficiency?
Problems with the synthesis of methionine. This causes poor growth and pool wool production.
How can the Vitamin B12 status be assessed?
- Blood Methylmalonic acid (MMA)
- Increased MMA = a lack of mutate activity
- Early indicator of deficiency
How can a cobalt/B12 deficiency be treated?
- The use of an injection or a oral drench
- Supplementation of cobalt
What breed of dog is malabsorption of Vitamin B12 common in?
Giant Schnauzers
Where is Vitamin E commonly stored in the body?
Vitamin E is commonly stored in fatty tissue, liver and muscle.
What is the best source of Vitamin E in the diet?
Vegetable Oils
How is the stability of Vitamin E reduced?
heat, exposure to sunlight, per-oxidising lipids
What is the main function of Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant to prevent tissues from perioxidation - it is a free radical scavenger
What does an increase in selenium and glutathione peroxidase mean for Vitamin E?
Increase in selenium and glutathione peroxidase act to prevent lipid perioxidation meaning less Vitamin E is needed.
What does an increase in PUFA mean for Vitamin E requirements?
Increases the amount of Vitamin E that will be required.
What are some common signs that would be observed with a Vitamin E deficiency?
- Nutritional muscular dystrophy
- Pancreatitis - yellow fat tissue
- Reproductive failure
- De-arrangement of cell permeability
What is the function of the selenium?
Selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase is an antioxidant. Selenium function is linked to Vitamin E.
Where are the glutathione peroxidases most active?
These have the highest activities in the liver and the RBC.
What are the roles of selenium?
- Antioxidant
- Immune function
- Basal metabolism
- Reproductive function
What are the major dietary sources of selenium?
High concentrations brazil nuts and in fish.
What is the relationship of glutathionase peroxidase with Vitamin E?
Vitamin E and glutathionase peroxidase are both anti-oxidants. They both have a mutual ‘sparing’ effect on each other.
What are the signs of Vitamin E/Se deficiency and what animals does it normally occur in?
- These normally occur in young, rapidly growing animals
- Deficiencies can be responsive to a combined lack of either of these
What are the signs of selenium deficiency in ruminants?
- Nutritional muscular dystrophy
- Reproductive disorders
- Poor growth and wool production
- Impaired immune responses
How is the selenium status assessed in an animal?
Measurement of glutathione peroxidase in the blood
When are selenium deficiencies often seen?
Selenium deficiencies are often seen in spring when there is rapid plant growth and rapidly growing animals.
