Certain diets cause a marked reduction in milk fat production in ruminants. Commonly referred to as milk fat depression (MFD), the mechanism involves an interrelationship between rumen microbial processes and tissue metabolism. Numerous theories to explain this interrelationship have been proposed and investigations offer little support for theories that are based on a limitation in the supply of lipogenic precursors. Rather, the basis involves alterations in rumen biohydrogenation of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and a specific inhibition of mammary synthesis of milk fat. The biohydrogenation theory proposes that under certain dietary conditions, typical pathways of rumen biohydrogenation are altered to produce unique fatty acid intermediates that inhibit milk fat synthesis. Trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been identified as one example that is correlated with the reduction in milk fat. Investigations with pure isomers have shown that trans-10, cis-12 CLA is a potent inhibitor of milk fat synthesis, and similar to diet-induced MFD, the mechanism involves a coordinated reduction in mRNA abundance for key enzymes involved in the biochemical pathways of fat synthesis. A more complete identification of these naturally produced inhibitors of fat synthesis and delineation of cellular mechanisms may offer broader opportunities for application and understanding of the regulation of lipid metabolism.

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Nutritional regulation of milk fat synthesis.

The Composition of Bovine Milk Lipids: January 1995 to December 2000

▪ Abstract Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in beef, lamb, and dairy products that exist as positional and stereo-isomers of octadecadienoate (18:2). Over the past two decades numerous health benefits have been attributed to CLA in experimental animal models including actions to reduce carcinogenesis, atherosclerosis, onset of diabetes, and body fat mass. The accumulation of CLA isomers and several elongated/desaturated and β-oxidation metabolites have been found in tissues of animals fed diets with CLA. Molecular mechanisms of action appear to include modulation of eicosanoid formation as well as regulation of the expression of genes coding for enzymes known to modulate macronutrient metabolism. This review focuses on health benefits, metabolism, and potential mechanisms of action of CLA and postulates the implications regarding dietary CLA for human health.

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid in health: physiological effects and mechanisms of action.

http://www2.kobe-u.ac.jp/~toyoda/beef/BEEF/Ref/beef%20production_fat.pdf

Innovations in beef production systems that enhance the nutritional and health value of beef lipids and their relationship with meat quality.

The potential to modify the milk fatty acid (FA) composition by changing the cow or goat diets is reviewed. Ruminal biohydrogenation (RBH), combined with mammary lipogenic and A-9 desaturation pathways, considerably modifies the profile of dietary FA and thus milk composition. The pasture has major effects by decreasing saturated FA and increasing FA considered as favorable for human health (c9-18:1, 18:3n-3 and c9t11-CLA), compared to winter diets, especially those based on maize silage and concentrates. Plant lipid supplements have effects similar to pasture, especially linseed, but they increase to a larger extent, simultaneously several trans isomers of 18:1 and, conjugated or non-conjugated 18:2, especially when added to maize silage or concentrate-rich diets. The goat responds better for milk 18:3n-3 and c9t11-CLA, and sometimes less for c9-18:1, and is less prone to the RBH trans-11 to trans-10 shift, which has been shown to be time dependent in the cow. The respective physiological roles of most milk trans FA have not been studied to date, and more studies in rodents and humans fed dairy products modified by changing ruminant diet are required before recommending a larger use of lipid sources and how to combine them with the different feeding systems used by dairy farmers.

Diet, rumen biohydrogenation and nutritional quality of cow and goat milk fat

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.

P. Y. Chouinard

Papers

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

Trans fatty acid hypothesis of milk fat depression revised.