Evaluation of different dietary lipid supplements on oxidatively generated biomarkers in periparturient dairy goats

This study aimed at analyzing the impact of different dietary lipid supplements on oxidative stress status in 26 Alpine dairy goats fed with diets just differing in lipid sources: protected fish oil (FO), calcium stearate (ST), and control group (C), without any supplement. Blood samples were collected weekly starting from day 130 of gestation (about 20 days before delivery) until 21 days of lactation. Analytical determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) have been carried out in serum samples. Gas chromatographic determination of plasma fatty acids (FAs) was also performed. MDA and 8-oxodGuo resulted both higher in FO group when compared to ST and C group, but not at significant level. Dietary lipid supplements produced remarkable change in plasma FAs and after 21 days of supplementation, 20:5 n-3 (eicosapentaenoic, EPA) and 22:6 n-3 (docosahexaenoic, DHA) in FO group resulted significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) from ST and C groups. The significant increase of EPA in FO diet was assessed right after 7 days of supplementation. Positive and significant (P ≤ 0.05) correlations between some FAs and MDA, and 8-oxodGuo were obtained.