Maternal Hydroxytyrosol Supplementation Enhances Antioxidant Capacity and Immunometabolic Adaptations in Nutrient-Restricted Beef Cows and Their Offspring

September 12, 2025

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Publicated to:Antioxidants. 14 (9): 1097- - 2025-09-09 14(9), DOI: 10.3390/antiox14091097

Authors: Escalera-Moreno, N., Álvarez-Rodríguez, J., López de Armentia, L., Macià, A., Martín-Alonso, M. J., Molina, E., Villalba, D., Sanz, A., & Serrano-Pérez, B.

Affiliations

Animal Science Department, University of Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain - Author

Animal Science Department, University of Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain, AGROTECNIO-CERCA Center, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain - Author

Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA) (IA2-UNIZAR), Avda. Montañana 930, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain - Author

Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Huesca, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA-IA2, Carretera de Cuarte s/n, 22071 Huesca, Spain - Author

Food Technology, Engineering and Science Department, XaRTA-TPV, University of Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain, AGROTECNIO-CERCA Center, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain - Author

Abstract

The impact of maternal dietary restriction and hydroxytyrosol (HT) supplementation during the last third of gestation on plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, total antioxidant capacity (ABTS assay), and peripheral blood gene expression related to antioxidant defence, immune response, and energy metabolism was evaluated in beef cows and calves. Two feeding treatments in late gestation (T100% vs. T60% of nutrient requirements) and two HT levels (Control vs. HT at 180 mg/kg of diet) were evaluated during gestation (n = 46 cows) and lactation (n = 37 cows and calves). In pregnant cows, undernutrition led to inhibition of glucose oxidation (PDK4), decreased lipid synthesis (HMGCS1 and SCD) and TLR signalling; T60% cows showed higher plasma MDA (p < 0.05) with no positive effect of HT on antioxidant capacity. Contrarily, during lactation, earlier HT supplementation upregulated antioxidant capacity and modulated antioxidant gene expression (p < 0.05). In calves, there was an increase in SOD1, CAT, and GPX1, especially in the T60%-HT group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, HT supplementation increased glucose transport (SLC2A1/GLUT1) during pregnancy and lactation (p < 0.05). However, it caused different effects on immunometabolic regulation in both dams and calves, depending on maternal diet. Overall, maternal HT supplementation under restricted nutritional conditions promoted postpartum antioxidant capacity and modulated immune and metabolic gene expression in cows and calves.

Keywords

Carne de terneraEstrés oxidativoExpresión génicaGanado de carneNutrición animalPropiedades antioxidantes

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The work has been published in the journal Antioxidants due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 8/72, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Chemistry, Medicinal.

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