Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product on oxidative status, inflammation, and immune response in transition dairy cattle

Dairy cattle are subjected to oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered immune function during the transition to lactation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP; NutriTek, Diamond V) on oxidative status, inflammation, and innate and adaptive immune responses during the transition period. Holstein cows were blocked by parity, expected calving date, and previous milk yield and then randomly assigned to treatment within block. Treatment was a control total mixed ration (n = 30) or SCFP total mixed ration (n = 34) fed from -29 ± 5 to 42 d relative to calving (RTC). Blood was sampled during wk -4, -2, 1, 2, and 5 and liver tissue at wk -3 and 2 RTC. Oxidative status was evaluated in plasma by retinol, α-tocopherol, and malondialdehyde concentrations, glutathione peroxidase activity, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, and in liver by mRNA abundance of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2), metallothionein 1E (MT1E), and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3). Inflammation was evaluated in plasma by haptoglobin (HP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations and in liver by mRNA abundance of HP, serum amyloid A3 (SAA3), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFKB1). Innate immune response was measured by stimulated oxidative burst of polymorphonuclear cells (neutrophils) isolated from blood. Ovalbumin (OVA) was administered with adjuvant on d 7 and 21 RTC, and adaptive immune response was evaluated by serum anti-OVA IgG content on d 28 and 35. Mixed models were used to assess effects of treatment, time, parity, and all interactions. We previously reported that SCFP had limited effects on productivity in this cohort, although milk fat yield was transiently increased and subclinical ketosis incidence was increased. Supplementation with SCFP did not affect overall oxidative, inflammatory, or immune parameters. The only treatment × week interaction detected was for plasma α-tocopherol concentration, which tended to be greater in control cows during wk 2 RTC. A tendency for a treatment × parity interaction was detected for serum anti-OVA IgG titer, which tended to be greater for SCFP than for controls among primiparous cows. Plasma inflammatory biomarkers were not affected by SCFP but, unexpectedly, plasma HP was elevated at both prepartum time points and plasma SAA was elevated during wk -2 RTC compared with the expected increases in both biomarkers postpartum. In this cohort of transition cows with low disease incidence, SCFP generally did not affect oxidative, inflammatory, or immune parameters.

Development and optimization of simultaneous determination of fat soluble vitamins by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

OBJECTIVE

Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) are isoprene derived apolar molecules. While deficiencies of these vitamins have been associated with various diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer, high doses of Vitamin A and D can cause toxic effects. Accurate detection of serum levels of these vitamins have critical importance. In this study, it is aimed to develop and validate a sensitive and specific Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS / MS) method that allows simultaneous analysis of fat-soluble vitamins.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum samples were deproteinized with methanol and chromatographic separation of analytes were performed by LC-MS/MS system (Agilent Technologies 6420 Triple Quadrapole LC-MS), Agilent Pursuit PFP column (100 mm × 3.0 mm; 3.0 μm), in gradient mode using Mobile phase A (milli-Q+0.1 % formic acid) and Mobile phase B (Methanol+0.1 % formic acid). Ion scan was performed in MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) mode with positive ion selectivity in ESI ion source.

RESULTS

The retention times were 6.93 min, 6.94 min and 9.34 min while concentrations were linear in the ranges between 10-150 ng/mL, 3-90 μg /dL and 6-90 μg/mL for 25-hydroxy vitamin D₃ (25-OHD₃), Vitamin A and Vitamin E, respectively. Inter-day Coefficient Variation (CV%) values for Vitamin A, Vitamin E and 25-OHD₃ were; 9.08 %, 9.85 % and 3.07 % and intra-day CV% values were; 2.98 %, 5.05 % and 5.01 %. LOD and LOQ results were 2.11 μg/dL and 3.50 μg/dL for Vitamin A; 1.71 μg/mL and 2.45 μg/mL for Vitamin E; 1.47 ng/mL and 2.50 ng/mL for 25-OHD₃, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this study, a LC-MS/MS method that can analyze fat soluble vitamins in 13 min was developed and validated. This method will be useful for clinical purposes by replacing low specificity immunoassay methods and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods that can not allow simultaneous analysis.

A simultaneous quantitative method for vitamins A, D and E in human serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Non-classical roles of fat-soluble vitamins (FSVs) in many pathologies including cancer have been identified. There is also evidence of hormonal interactions between two of these vitamins, A and D. As a result of this enhanced clinical association with disease, translational clinical research and laboratory requests for FSV measurement has significantly increased. However there are still gaps in the analytical methods available for the measurement of these vitamins. This study aimed to develop a method for simultaneous quantification of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D2 (25-OHD2), 25-hydroxyvitamin-D3 (25-OHD3) and its 3-epimer (epi-25-OHD3), retinol and α-tocopherol in human serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The procedure was developed and validated across two LC-MS/MS platforms, using commercial calibrators referenced to certified reference materials, controls, and deuterated internal standards. The samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction prior to injection and LC separation (using a Pursuit-PFP column) on two Agilent MS/MS systems (6410 and 6490) in electrospray ionisation positive mode with multiple reaction monitoring. Identification and quantification of 25-OHD3 from its 3-epimer as well as 25-OHD2, retinol and α-tocopherol were achieved. The dynamic ranges were 4-160 nmol/L for 25-OHD2 and epi-25-OHD3, 4-200 nmol/L for 25-OHD3, 0.1-4.0μmol/L for retinol and 4-70μmol/L for α-tocopherol with correlation (r(2)) of 0.997-0.998. Based on participation in an external quality assurance program, the overall performance of the simultaneous methods were: imprecision (CV%) and inaccuracy (average bias) 3.0% and 3.2 nmol/L, respectively, for 25-OHD3; 5.0% and 0.04μmol/L, respectively, for retinol; and 4.7% and 0.2μmol/L, respectively, for α-tocopherol. In summary, two simple LC-MS/MS methods were successfully developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of the three vitamin D metabolites (25-OHD2, 25-OHD3 and 3-epimer of 25-OHD3), vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (α-tocopherol) in serum.

Vitamins D and A can be successfully measured by LC-MS/MS in cord blood diluted plasma

OBJECTIVES

In widely used protocols for the collection and isolation of cord blood mononuclear cells, investigators are left with substantial volumes of diluted plasma which could be used for other measurements. The aim of this study was to ascertain the validity of umbilical cord blood (UCB) diluted plasma samples for vitamin D, A and E analysis compared to UCB serum samples.

DESIGN & METHODS

Twenty UCB matched samples of diluted plasma and serum were collected. The samples were analysed by two liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods on two separate occasions.

RESULTS

The results of 25(OH)D3 obtained by the two laboratories demonstrated close agreement with a mean difference of 0.14nmol/L [95% confidence interval (95% CI), -6.8 to 7.1]. Both methods demonstrate close agreement for 25(OH)D3 in UCB serum versus diluted UCB plasma; mean difference 2.2nmol/L [95% CI, -9.5 to 13.9] and 4.1nmol/L [95% CI, -14.5 to 6.1] for the results from Lab A and Lab B, respectively. Vitamin A was quantified by Lab A in UCB serum and diluted UCB plasma; mean difference 0.07μmol/L [95% CI, -0.41 to 0.28]. Results of 25(OH)D3 epimer and vitamin E in the diluted UCB plasma were below the limit of quantification, and could not be compared with UCB serum.

CONCLUSIONS

Diluted UCB plasma can be used for the quantification of retinol and 25(OH)D3 by LC-MS/MS. By contrast, quantification of 25(OH)D3 epimer and vitamin E in diluted UCB plasma is not supported by this study due to limitations in analytical sensitivity.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry microanalysis of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol in plasma and whole blood

BACKGROUND

Assessing vitamin E status in humans is critical for nutritional evaluation and verification of clinical and biological compliance of supplemented subjects. An accurate analytical method for measuring the two main vitamin E isoforms, i.e. α- and γ-tocopherol (α- and γ-TOH) in small volumes of plasma can facilitate the application of this analysis to clinical trials and in situations where a limited amount of sample is available.

METHODS

We have developed a micro method, which uses only 5 μL plasma, based on isotope dilution, trimethylsilation and GC-MS. The method was validated according to the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization of analytical procedures. The method was also applied to 5 μL of whole blood for the potential use in conditions were the availability of specimens is limited.

RESULTS

Accurate quantitation of α-TOH and γ-TOH was achieved at levels ≥ 0.417 μM and ≥ 0.007 μM, respectively. Within-day coefficient of variation was 1.31% and 4.70% for α-TOH and γ-TOH, respectively. Between-day coefficient of variation was 1.32% and 2.88% for α-TOH and γ-TOH, respectively. Recovery, assessed at three concentration levels, ranged 98-103% and 100-102% for α-TOH and γ-TOH, respectively. The method allowed the detection of α-TOH and γ-TOH in 5 μL whole blood and in membranes of red blood cells washed from 5 μL of blood as well. The analytical performance was assessed in plasma from a cohort of Italian healthy subjects (n = 205). The mean plasma concentrations were 28.01 ± 6.31 and 0.68 ± 0.48 μM (mean ± SD) for α-TOH and γ-TOH, respectively. Alpha-TOH correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.617, p < 0.0001) and triglycerides (r = 0.420, p < 0.0001) while γ-TOH correlated modestly with total cholesterol (r = 0.213, p < 0.0001) but not with triglycerides. γ-TOH, but not α-TOH, was significantly lower in smokers than in non-smokers (0.72 ± 0.50 vs. 0.56 ± 0.37, μM, mean ± SD, p = 0.017). Given the high sensitivity, the method allowed to be applied to 5 μM whole blood without specific modification.

CONCLUSIONS

This micro-method represents an analytical advancement in α- and γ-TOH assay that is available to accurately verify the nutritional status and compliance after supplementation in large-scale settings, and to measure the two vitamers in conditions where sample availability is limited.