[Evolution of postprandial cholesterolemia and triglyceridemia with age in the preruminant calf; the effect of sorbitol ingestion].

From birth to 10 weeks of age, 7 Friesian male calves were fed milk replacers containing 21 p. 100 tallow. The calves were divided into two groups: a control group (4 calves) and a "sorbitol" group (3 calves) receiving sorbitol in the milk replacer (0.6 g/100 g DM). At 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 weeks of age, plasma concentrations of free cholesterol, cholesterol esters and triglycerides were determined in jugular blood 2 h before the morning meal and 1/2, 2, 3, 5 and 7 h after feeding. No significant variations were observed in the pattern of postprandial estercholesterolemia whatever the age or diet. Average estercholesterolemia was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) at 2-3 weeks of age than at 5, 7 or 10 weeks. Sorbitol supplementation decreased estercholesterolemia significantly (P less than 0.01) when the calves were 2 weeks old, but no effect was observed later. Similar variations in postprandial cholesterolemia were noted for both groups at all ages. Cholesterolemia was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) during the - 2h, + 1/2 hour-period than in the 2-5- hour period and rose significantly at 7 h (P less than 0.05) to the same pre-feeding level. Average cholesterolemia showed the same changes with age as estercholesterolemia in both groups. Changes in postprandial triglyceridemia were similar to those of cholesterolemia in both groups at all the ages studied. The decrease in triglyceridemia (P less than 0.01) 2 h after feeding was probably related to intense lipolysis, and the increase (P less than 0.05) 7 h after feeding was due to the arrival of new feed triglycerides. Triglyceridemia was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower when the calves were 10 weeks old than when they were younger, but no change was observed when sorbitol was added to the diet.