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ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to determine if the effects of supplementary
folic acid on lactational performance were due to improved methylneogenesis and if
the supply in vitamin B12 could interfere with this metabolic pathway. In this
eventuality, supplementary methionine, a major source of preformed methyl groups,
should reduce the requirement for these vitamins. Sixty multiparous cows were fed
either a diet calculated to supply 76% of methionine requirement (M-) or the same
diet supplemented with 18 g of rumen-protected methionine (M+). Within each level
of methionine, cows received either no vitamin supplement (B9-B12-), weekly
intramuscular injections of 160 mg of folic acid alone (B9+B12-) or combined with 10
mg of vitamin B12 (B9+B12+), from 3 wk before to 16 wk after calving. At 12 week of
lactation, glucose and methionine kinetics were measured by isotope dilution using
infusions of D-[U13C]glucose, [13C]NaHCO3 and L-[1-13C, 2H3]methionine on 24
cows in treatments M-B9-B12-, M-B9+B12+, M+ B9-B12- et M+B9+B12+. Milk, blood
and liver samples were collected to measure lactational performance, different
metabolites and gene expression of key enzymes of energy metabolism and
methylation cycle. The results showed that, in parallel with an increase in folates and
vitamin B12 concentrations in milk, plasma and liver, administration of folic acid and
vitamin B12 together increased milk production. The supplements of methionine
affected methylation cycle by acting on mRNA abundance of key enzymes of this
cycle whereas supplementary folic acid decreased plasma concentrations of
homocysteine without any effect on animal performance. Intramuscular injections of
folic acid and vitamin B12 increased whole body flux of glucose with a similar
quantitative magnitude as the observed increment in milk lactose yield. Vitamin
supplements increased also gene expression of the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, an
essential enzyme for the entry of propionate in the Krebs cycle. These results indicate
that the effects of the combined supplements of folic acid and vitamin B12 on
lactational performance are probably due to an improved efficiency of glucose
metabolism rather than an effect on methylneogenesis.
Key words: dairy cow, folic acid, vitamin B12, rumen-protected methionine