FLAXSEED MEAL FEEDING TO DAIRY COWS AS A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE MILK ENTEROLACTONE CONCENTRATION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) is the richest source of the plant lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). In mammals, including bovine, SDG is converted to the mammalian lignans enterolactone (EL) and enterodiol (ED) by the action of gastrointestinal microbes. There is a great deal of interest in promoting increased intakes of lignans in humans’ diet due to the potential health benefits of mammalian lignans, especially in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolaemia, breast and prostate cancers, and osteoporosis. Consumption of milk and dairy products enriched in EL could be an excellent strategy to increase the intake of lignans by humans. This literature review will focus on presenting feeding strategies capable to improve milk enterolactone concentration. Research has demonstrated the potential of flaxseed meal (FM) feeding to dairy cows as a strategy to improve milk EL concentration, therefore enhancing milk nutraceutical proprieties. A considerable number of studies have demonstrated that feeding vegetable lignans-rich sources, such as FM, to dairy cows improves EL in milk. Additionally, it has been reported that changes in the carbohydrate profile of FM-based diets fed to dairy cows can alter the output of milk EL. The application of animal nutrition as a tool to increase nutraceutical properties of milk (i.e. increased EL concentration) is a valuable strategy for promoting the association of milk with humans’ health benefits and is of great interest in contemporary society. Keywords: nutraceutical proprieties, bioactive compounds, lignans, dairy cows, disease risk reductionO farelo de linhaça na dieta de vacas leiteiras como estratégia para aumentar a concentração de enterolactona no leite: revisão de literatura   RESUMO: A linhaça (Linum usitatissimum) é a principal fonte da lignana vegetal secoisolariciresinol diglucosídeo (SDG). Em mamíferos, incluindo bovinos, SDG é precursor para a síntese das lignanas de mamíferos enterolactona (EL) e enterodiol (ED) pelos microrganismos gastrointestinais. Existe um grande interesse em promover o aumento da ingestão de lignanas na dieta humana devido aos potenciais benefícios da EL a saúde, incluindo principalmente a prevenção de doenças cardiovasculares, hipercolesterolemia, câncer de mama e de próstata e osteoporose. Assim, objetivou-se fazer uma revisão de literatura sobre estratégias de alimentação capazes de melhorar a concentração de enterolactona no leite, melhorando assim a atividade biológica e os benefícios do leite para a saúde humana.fontes ricas em lignanas vegetais, como o farelo de linhaça (FM), aumenta a concentração de EL no leite. Além disso, estudos têm demonstrado que mudanças no perfil de carboidratos de dietas à base de FM fornecidas a vacas leiteiras alteram a concentração de EL do leite. A aplicação da nutrição animal como ferramenta para aumentar as propriedades nutracêuticas do leite (ex. aumentar a concentração de EL) é uma estratégia valiosa para promover a associação do leite com benefícios à saúde humana e é de grande interesse na sociedade moderna. Palavras-chave: propriedades nutracêuticas do leite; compostos bioativos; lignanas; redução do risco de doenças; bovinocultura leiteira.   ABSTRACT: Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) is the richest source of the plant lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). In mammals, including bovine, SDG is converted to the mammalian lignans enterolactone (EL) and enterodiol (ED) by the action of gastrointestinal microbes. There is a great deal of interest in promoting increased intakes of lignans in humans’ diet due to the potential health benefits of mammalian lignans, especially in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolaemia, breast and prostate cancers, and osteoporosis. Consumption of milk and dairy products enriched in EL could be an excellent strategy to increase the intake of lignans by humans. This literature review will focus on presenting feeding strategies capable to improve milk enterolactone concentration. Research has demonstrated the potential of flaxseed meal (FM) feeding to dairy cows as a strategy to improve milk EL concentration, therefore enhancing milk nutraceutical proprieties. A considerable number of studies have demonstrated that feeding vegetable lignans-rich sources, such as FM, to dairy cows improves EL in milk. Additionally, it has been reported that changes in the carbohydrate profile of FM-based diets fed to dairy cows can alter the output of milk EL. The application of animal nutrition as a tool to increase nutraceutical properties of milk (i.e. increased EL concentration) is a valuable strategy for promoting the association of milk with humans’ health benefits and is of great interest in contemporary society. Keywords: milk nutraceutical proprieties; bioactive compounds; lignans; disease risk reduction; dairy cattle production.