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 reduction