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Biomedical subjects

K V Nurmela

Publications and source records attributed to K V Nurmela.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Conjugated linoleic acid is synthesized endogenously in lactating dairy cows by Delta(9)-desaturase.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring anticarcinogen found in milk fat and body fat of ruminants. Although CLA is an intermediate in ruminal biohydrogenation of linoleic acid, we hypothesized that its primary source was from endogenous synthesis. This would involve Delta(9)-desaturase and synthesis from trans-11 18:1, another intermediate in ruminal biohydrogenation. Our first experiment supplied lactating cows (n = 3) with trans-11 18:1 by abomasal infusion and examined the potential for endogenous synthesis by measuring changes in milk fat CLA. By d 3, infusion of trans-11 18:1 resulted in a 31% increase in concentration of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in milk fat, demonstrating that an active pathway for endogenous synthesis of CLA exists. Our second experiment examined the quantitative importance of endogenous synthesis of CLA in lactating cows (n = 3) by abomasally infusing a putative stimulator (retinol palmitate) or an inhibitor (sterculic oil) of Delta(9)-desaturase. Infusion of retinol palmitate had no influence on milk fatty acid desaturation, and yield of CLA in milk fat was not altered. However, sterculic oil infusion decreased the concentration of CLA in milk fat by 45%. Consistent with Delta(9)-desaturase inhibition, the sterculic oil treatment also altered the milk fat concentration of other Delta(9)-desaturase products as indicated by the two- to threefold increase in the ratios of 14:0 to 14:1(,) 16:0 to 16:1 and 18:0 to cis-18:1. Using changes in the ratio of 14:0 to 14:1 as an indication of the extent of Delta(9)-desaturase inhibition with the sterculic oil treatment, an estimated 64% of the CLA in milk fat was of endogenous origin. Overall, results demonstrate that endogenous synthesis of CLA from trans-11 18:1 represented the primary source of CLA in milk fat of lactating cows.

Animals↗

Trans-octadecenoic acids and milk fat depression in lactating dairy cows.

We examined the role of trans-octadecenoic acids in milk fat depression when low fiber diets were fed. The study consisted of four experimental periods with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to test the effects of dietary fat (saturated vs. unsaturated) and rumen fermentation (high fiber diets vs. low fiber diets) on milk fat depression. Dietary fiber concentration and type of fat had significant effects on milk fat. Effects were most pronounced when unsaturated fat was added to the low fiber diet. When the low fiber diet plus unsaturated fat was fed, milk fat percentage and yield were decreased by 30 and 35%, respectively, compared with the percentage and yield when the high fiber diet plus saturated fat was fed. Alterations in rumen fermentation caused by differences in dietary fiber concentrations had little effect on the amount of trans-octadecenoic acids in milk fat, and the total amount did not correlate with changes in milk fat percentage. Further examination of the isomeric profile of trans-octadecenoic acid revealed substantial differences among the dietary treatments. Although the addition of unsaturated fat resulted in marked increases in the milk fat content of trans-11-octadecenoic acid, regardless of dietary fiber concentration, the low fiber diet plus unsaturated fat increased the content of trans-10-octadecenoic acid. This combination was also associated with a significant decrease in milk fat content and yield. When the low fiber diets were fed, circulating insulin concentrations were elevated, regardless of the type of fat supplement. However, marked milk fat depression occurred only when the low fiber diet was supplemented with unsaturated fat.

Animals↗

Quantitative analysis of triglycerides by high-performance liquid chromatography using non-linear gradient elution and flame ionization detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) technique using a commercial flame ionization detector for the analysis of triglyceride mixtures is described and discussed. A non-linear gradient elution programme giving a linear relationship between equivalent carbon numbers (ECNs) and retention times was developed. A new effect of chain length asymmetry on ECN values has been found.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗