Effects of Dietary Fat on Reproduction
2003
Petit, Helene V.
Prostaglandins are active substances synthesized from dietary fat and involved in reproduction. There are two main pathways used to synthesize prostaglandins. One is used by most dietary fat (e. g. corn and soybean, sources of omega-6 fatty acids) and leads to series 1 and 2 prostaglandins, while the other one is more specific to fish products and flax oil (sources of omega-3 fatty acids) and leads to series 3 prostaglandins. Thus, depending on the pathway used for prostaglandins synthesis, the type and role of the resulting prostaglandins will differ. Fatty acid composition of the cell wall membrane is modified by dietary fatty acids, which would alter the function of reproductive tissues. This suggests that fatty acids from different metabolic pathways have different effects on reproduction of the dairy cow. In fact, dietary omega-3 fatty acids can decrease series 2 prostaglandins synthesis by different actions, which include decreasing the availability of the precursor arachidonic acid, increasing the concentration of fatty acids that compete with arachidonic acid for series 2 prostaglandins, and inhi biting prostaglandins synthase. Lower secretion of series 2 prostaglandins usually improves reproduction of cattle. This can be achieved through dietary supplementation with fish oil or linseed oil as they are major inhibitors of desaturation and elongation, leading to arachidonic acid formation.
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