Possible roles of vitamin E in immune response of calves.

The effect of vitamin E injections on immune responses of calves was investigated. Treatments were: 0, 900, 1800 and 2700 IU of D-alpha-tocopherol given by injection starting at birth and then a 3 wk interval until the age of 12 wk. Plasma vitamin E levels were significantly higher for supplemented calves than control calves at any of the sampling times. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of immunoglobulin IgG1, IgG2 and titre to Keyhole Limpet Haemocyanin among treatments. However, the general trend was to have higher concentrations of IgG1 and IgG2 with an increase in the levels of vitamin E. Immunoglobulin IgM was significantly higher for calves supplemented with 2700 IU of vitamin E than control calves.