Effect of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on antioxidant status of male buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves

An experiment was conducted on 20 male buffalo calves (average body weight 75.30 +/- 2.20 kg) to study the effect of supplemental vitamin E and/or selenium on their antioxidant enzyme status. Group I served as control (without any supplementation), groups II, III and IV were supplemented with 0.3 mg selenium, 300 IU of DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, and both 300 IU DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and 0.3 mg selenium, respectively. Animals were fed on wheat straw and concentrate mixture to meet their nutrient requirements. Blood was collected at zero day and subsequently at 45, 90, 135 and 180 days and analysed for activity of antioxidant enzymes: catalase, super oxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidase (LPO) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Concentration of glutathione (GSH) was also measured in blood. Results revealed that the activity of erythrocyte LPO, catalase, and SOD did not differ (P>0.05) among the different treatments. Similarly, the concentration of GSH was also alike in 4 groups. However, erythrocyte GSH-Px activity and plasma Se concentration were found to be significantly higher in all the three supplemented groups as compared to control. The a-tocopherol concentration in plasma was found to be significantly higher in group III and IV as compared to group I and II. It may be concluded that vitamin E and Se supplementation increased the plasma level of these micronutrients and improved the antioxidant status of male buffalo calves in terms of erythrocyte GSH-Px activity.