Effects of Supplemental Vitamins E and C on the Immune Responses of Calves

¹ Centre for Food and Animal Research, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A OC6
² Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charioltetown, PE, Canada C1A 4P3

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of oral supplementation of vitamin C and vitamin E (-tocopherol), alone and in combination, on immune responses of calves. In Experiment 1, 18 Holstein newborn female calves were supplemented with 0, 1, and 2 g/d of vitamin C from birth to 6 wk of age. Concentrations of ascorbic acid in blood plasma were significantly higher for supplemented calves than for control calves. No significant differences among treatments occurred in the concentrations of IgG₁, IgG₂, and titer to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. In Experiment 2, effects of oral supplementation of vitamins E and C on immune responses were studied using 18 Holstein female calves. Concentrations of -tocopherol in blood plasma were significantly higher for supplemented than for control calves. The concentrations increased from birth to wk 1, and then very little change occurred from wk 1 to 6. Differences among treatments in the concentrations of IgG₁, IgG₂, IgM, and titer to keyhole limpet hemocyanin were not significant; however, concentrations of IgM in calves supplemented with vitamins E and C generally tended to be higher than those of control calves. Antibodies to keyhole limpet hemocyanin were higher at 6 wk than at 4 wk of age.

Key Words: vitamin C • vitamin E • immune response • calves

Submitted on August 25, 1994
Accepted on February 21, 1995

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