Veterinary Quarterly

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L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) supplementation to

optimize health and reproduction in cattle

R. Ranjan , A. Ranjan , G.S. Dhaliwal & R.C. Patra

To cite this article: R. Ranjan , A. Ranjan , G.S. Dhaliwal & R.C. Patra (2012) L-Ascorbic acid
(vitamin C) supplementation to optimize health and reproduction in cattle, Veterinary Quarterly,
32:3-4, 145-150, DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2012.734640

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Veterinary Quarterly
Vol. 32, Nos. 3–4, September–December 2012, 145–150

REVIEW ARTICLE
L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) supplementation to optimize health and reproduction in cattle
R. Ranjana*, A. Ranjanb, G.S. Dhaliwala and R.C. Patrac
a
Department of Teaching, Veterinary Clinical Complex, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,
Ludhiana, Punjab, India; bDepartment of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal
Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India; cDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences,
Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
(Received 2 July 2012; final version received 24 September 2012)

Cattle can synthesize L-ascorbic acid (or Vitamin C) from either D-glucose or D-galactose through glucuronic acid
pathway in the liver. L-Ascorbic acid present in cattle diet is almost totally destroyed by rumen microorganisms
making them essentially dependent on its endogenous synthesis, which is assumed sufficient to meet the
physiological requirement. Therefore, the role of vitamin C in cattle health and disease has remained widely
overlooked. However, there is mounting evidence that the level of L-ascorbic acid in blood and other tissues
decreases in association with stress and disease, and Vitamin C supplementation revealed favorable response as
evident from early recovery. The present review is an attempt to summarize the existing literature pertaining to
the physiological role of L-ascorbic acid and the scope of its supplementation in the prevention and treatment of
diseases in cattle. It should be realized that the aqueous solution of vitamin C is highly acidic and subcutaneous
or intramuscular administration may cause tissue irritation and inflammation, whereas the sodium ascorbate
solution is less acidic and might be used for intramuscular administration.
Keywords: L-ascorbic acid; cattle; bovine; disease; health; vitamin C

1. Introduction milk production in cattle is not associated with

Animals have the ability to biosynthesize L-ascorbic
acid through glucuronic acid pathway in liver (in
mammals) or kidney (in reptile and birds) using either
D-glucose or D-galactose (Basu and Schorah 1982).
Cattle are essentially dependent on this endogenous
synthesis as dietary vitamin C is almost totally
destroyed by rumen microorganisms (Nockels 1988a).
No published dietary requirement data of vitamin C
are available for adult cattle since endogenous synthe-
sis is assumed sufficient to meet the requirement
(Nockels 1988b; Hemingway 1991). However, several
studies have conclusively documented the decrease of
vitamin C level in the blood during stress and diseases
in cattle and other ruminants (Palludan and Wegger
1984; Ali 2000; Ranjan et al. 2005a). Decrease in the
vitamin C level during stress and diseases may be the
end result of decreased endogenous synthesis or
increased demand or a combination of both. Any
condition that decreases the availability of vitamin C
precursors, i.e. glucose and galactose, may result in
insufficient endogenous synthesis. For example, high
milk-producing dairy cows have an elevated demand
for glucose by the mammary gland in order to produce
lactose, hence they may synthesize less vitamin C
(Macleod, Zhang, Ozimeck, et al. 1999). However, few
authors do not approve this hypothesis. Padilla et al.
(2005) observed that even ketotic cows have the ability
to produce sufficient vitamin C and concluded that
vitamin C synthesis is possibly given a high-metabolic
priority. Santos et al. (2001) also reported that high
decrease in the plasma Vitamin C level.
Only L-isomer of vitamin C (Figure 1) and its
oxidized derivative L- dehydroascorbic acid has vita-
min C activity. L-Dehydroascorbic acid is readily
reduced back to the active form L-ascorbic acid in
the body. The D-isomer, also called iso-ascorbic acid or
erythroboric acid, does not have vitamin C-like activity
(Basu and Schorah 1982).
2. Biosynthesis, distribution, and tissue
concentrations
All ruminants including cattle have high endogenous
capacity for the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid. However,
calves are unable to synthesize vitamin C until two–
three weeks of age, hence are totally dependent upon
its supply through colostrum and milk. Fresh and
frozen colostrums are satisfactory sources of vitamin
C, but stored unfrozen colostrums rapidly lose their
vitamin C content (Hemingway 1991).
Vitamin C circulates freely in plasma, leukocytes,
and red blood cells and enters into all tissues and body
fluids in human beings (Iqbal et al. 2004). It has been
recorded that vitamin C is actively transported into
human blood leukocytes, thereby maintaining a high
vitamin C concentration unless vitamin C deficiency
occurs (Washko et al. 1989). High vitamin C concen-
tration can be recorded in pituitary and adrenal glands,
followed by spleen, liver, brain, and kidneys of adult
cattle (Kolb et al. 1989). Thymus, corpus-luteum,

*Corresponding author. Email: Rakesh_ranjan3@rediffmail.com

ISSN 0165–2176 print/ISSN 1875–5941 online

ß 2012 Taylor & Francis
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2012.734640
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146 R. Ranjan et al.

levels by preventing free radical-induced damage

(Englard and Seifter 1986). Vitamin C concentration
in the aqueous humor of cattle is several times
higher than its plasma concentration and the level is
maintained both by active transport (Helbig et al.
1990) and regeneration by ciliary body (Bode
et al. 1993).
Vitamin C is regarded to have critical functions in
the brain including its role as a cofactor of dopamine
Figure 1. Chemical structure of L-ascorbic acid.
Table 1. Plasma concentration (mg/L) of ascorbic acid in
healthy cattle and other domestic ruminants.
Species Concentration (range) Reference
Cattle 2.85–4.81 Ataman et al. (2010)
2.97–3.63 Padilla et al. (2006)
5.42–5.99 Mohamed et al. (2004)
5.7–6.2 Chanda (1958)
Buffalo 5.3–5.5 Chanda (1958)
Sheep 4.67–4.77 Mohamed et al. (2004)
4–8 Mac-Pherson (1983)
Goat 1.75–1.92 Sivakumar et al. (2010)
retina, testicles, thyroid glands, lymph nodes, pancreas,
and salivary glands also have high vitamin C concen-
tration (Hediger 2002). In a study in mice, it was found
that L-ascorbic acid does not cross the blood–brain
barrier, but L-dehydroascorbic acid easily crosses the
blood–brain barrier through glucose transporters
(Agus et al. 1997).
Measurement of vitamin C levels has been largely
confined to different biological fluids, plasma, and
whole blood. Vitamin C concentration in leukocytes
seems to be an accurate index of body status in man
(Washko et al. 1989). Normal vitamin C concentra-
tion in the blood of cattle and other ruminant
species as reported by different authors is given in
Table 1. Blood vitamin C level does not change in
response to lactation or the number of lactations
(Santos et al. 2001). However, certain other factors
such as season in bulls (Kolb et al. 1991), stage of
oestrus cycle and pregnancy in cows (Ataman et al.
2010), and the type of housing system in calves
(Cummins and Brunner 1991) may have significant
influence.
3. Biochemical functions
Vitamin C is a powerful reducing agent required in
the hydroxylation of proline and lysine for the
biosynthesis of collagen in human beings (Gaby
and Singh 1991). Collagen and hence vitamin C
support wound healing and the formation of blood
vessels, bone, and teeth. In addition, vitamin C plays
a protective role at many cellular and sub-cellular
-hydroxylase, and is thereby involved in catechol-
amine biosynthesis. Vitamin C inhibits peroxidation of
membrane phospholipids and acts as a scavenger of
free radicals in the brain (Englard and Seifter 1986)
and is required for the synthesis of several hormones
and neurotransmitters. It acts as a true co-substrate for
dopamine beta-monooxygenase for the biosynthesis of
norepinephrine from dopamine in bovine granulosa
cells (Dhariwal et al. 1991). It also acts as a reducing
agent for the synthesis of aldosterone in the adrenal
gland (Yanagibashi et al. 1990) and oxytocin in
granulosa cells of corpus luteum (Luck and Jungclas
1988). Vitamin C regulates oxytocin secretion through
direct interaction with catecholamines (Luck and
Jungclas 1987). In humans, vitamin C is required for
the biosynthesis of carnitine and the catecholamines
that regulate the nervous system (Iqbal et al. 2004). In
in vitro cell culture, vitamin C has been demonstrated
to play a critical role in the production and release of
corticosteroids in the bovine adrenal glands (Finn and
Johns 1980).
In myeloid leukemia cell culture, the addition of
Vitamin C in high doses has been reported to induce
oxidative damage inside the cell, suggesting that
vitamin C in high concentration may play a pro-
oxidant role (Osiecki et al. 2010).
4. Ascorbic acid and immunity
Vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis and hence
maintenance of skin and epithelial linings of the body
orifices (Gaby and Singh 1991). Neutrophils contain
about 40–60 times higher vitamin C concentration than
plasma. Motility and phagocytic capacity of neutro-
phils are enhanced following vitamin C supplementa-
tion (Roth and Kaeberle 1985). Vitamin C
concentration in neutrophils is rapidly depleted in
acute disease, infection, corticosteroid administration,
and trauma in human beings (Basu and Schorah 1982).
Vitamin C protects neutrophils from oxidative damage
and promotes oxidative killing of bacteria inside
neutrophils (Goldschmidt et al. 1988; Wang et al.
1997). Vitamin C also supports normal lymphocyte
proliferation, stimulates interferon production (Gerber
1975), and reduces the suppressor activity of mononu-
clear leukocytes (Gaby and Singh 1991). Low blood
vitamin C level in camels may compromise their
resistance against infectious diseases (Mohamed
et al. 2011).
 Veterinary Quarterly
5. Ascorbic acid in cattle diseases
5.1. Heat stress
The plasma vitamin C level in cattle declines during
heat stress (Padilla et al. 2006). Few research reports
also document the beneficial effects of Vitamin C
supplementation in goats (Kobeisy 1997; Sivakumar
et al. 2010). Supplementation of ascorbic acid polypho-
sphate along with salts (sodium bicarbonate and
potassium carbonate) was found effective in reducing
heat stress in buffaloes (Kumar et al. 2011). In goats,
vitamin C supplementation has been reported to
ameliorate the stress-induced hemolysis of erythrocytes
after road transportation for 12 hours during hot-dry
season (Minka and Ayo 2010).
5.2. Neonatal diseases
Milk is a poor source of vitamin C as the average
concentration in whole milk of cow and goat is about
1–2 mg/100 mL (Renner 1983), which is inadequate to
fulfill the requirement of newborn animals. The
recommended level of vitamin C in dry milk replacer
for calves is 2000 mg/kg. Endogenous vitamin C
production in the calf does not start until two–three
weeks of age and does not reach a maximum until 8–16
weeks (Palludan and Wegger 1984). As a consequence,
vitamin C level in blood decreases after birth up to
three months of age (Kolb 1992). Furthermore, vita-
min C level in blood is also influenced by several
factors, such as genetic potential of the individual
animal to produce vitamin C (Palludan and Wegger
1984), the presence of environmental stressors
(Cummins and Brunner 1989), and management fac-
tors (Cummins and Brunner 1991).
Decrease in vitamin C level has been noted in calves
in association with many diseases. Dermatosis in calves
commencing on the ears and spreading to neck and
chest has been associated with low level of vitamin C
(Radostits et al. 1994). Scurvy-like disease has also
been reported occasionally in adult cattle (Duncan
et al. 1944). Several studies have documented signifi-
cant decrease in plasma vitamin C level in pneumonia
(Jagos et al. 1977) and enteric infections (Hemingway
1991; Seifi et al. 1996) in calves. It has been hypoth-
esized that the demand of vitamin C increases in
various infections due to increased tissue requirements
(Hemingway 1991). Beneficial effects of vitamin C
supplementation on calf diarrhea cases further consol-
idate this hypothesis (Cummins and Brunner 1989;
Sahinduran and Albay 2004). It may also be possible
that the decrease in vitamin C concentration leads to
compromise in immunity and predisposes the animal
to various diseases. An immune-stimulatory effect of
vitamin C supplementation has already been reported
in dairy calves (Cummins and Brunner 1991).
Response of vitamin C supplementation on immune
function, however, varies with age. It increases the
plasma concentration of IgG in calves less than two
147
months old (Cummins and Brunner 1989) and IgM in
calves older than two months (Hidiroglou et al. 1995).
5.3. Reproductive problems
Perhaps, the first use of vitamin C supplementation for
therapeutic purposes in adult ruminant was for the
treatment of infertility. Subcutaneous administration
of 2.2–4.4 mg/kg BW vitamin C on every third–fourth
day claimed to improve the performance of bulls with
poor breeding records (Daykin 1960). Similar dosages
were also recommended in cows to improve the
conception rate. The administration of vitamin C
during the period of hormonal stimulation in women
has showed a positive though statistically insignificant
impact in terms of higher number of pregnancies (Crha
et al. 2003). Vitamin C concentrations vary according
to the follicle size, functional status, and the stage of
estrous cycle, suggesting a role in the process of
follicular development during the estrous cycle in
buffalo (Khan and Das 2011). In ovaries collected
from slaughterhouse, it was found that small- and
medium-sized follicles of acyclic buffaloes had lower
vitamin C concentrations than the corresponding size
estrogen-active follicles of their cyclic counterparts
(Khan and Das 2012). Addition of vitamin C in the
in vitro culture medium has been reported to increase
the rate of buffalo embryo development (Saikhun et al.
2008). However, the exact mechanism by which vita-
min C supplementation improves breeding perfor-
mance in cattle still remains inconclusive. Beneficial
effects of vitamin C supplementation on male fertility
in humans have also been investigated by several
researchers. It prevents sperm agglutination, resulting
into poor fertility in men (Dawson et al. 1983). Bull
semen also has little endogenous antioxidants.
Addition of optimum quantity of vitamin C to semen
extender can help protect spermatozoa from damages
during storage and handling induced by free radicals
(Foote et al. 2002). However, vitamin C is also
reported to enhance iron-induced oxidative damage
to spermatozoa (Dawra et al. 1983) and impairing the
success rate of bovine in vitro fertilization (Daivit et al.
1998). Thus, debate continues over its role in male
fertility.
In females, vitamin C has multiple roles in repro-
ductive physiology. During ovarian folliculogenesis, it
plays an important role in collagen biosynthesis,
steroidogenesis, and apoptosis (Luck and Zhao
1993). In vitro study has highlighted the role of vitamin
C in the maintenance of ovarian follicle health and
basement membrane remodeling in bovines (Thomas
et al. 2001). As discussed earlier, ascorbate regulates
the biosynthesis and release of oxytocin. Of interest,
low vitamin C level in placental tissues has been
reported in retained placenta cases (Kankofer 2001).
Significant decline in plasma total vitamin C concen-
tration in dairy cows has been reported during the
periparturient period (Tanaka et al. 2011).
148 R. Ranjan et al.
5.4. Mastitis
Several research reports document decreased vitamin C
concentration in milk and plasma in bovine and
caprine mastitis (Steffert 1993; Gupta et al. 1999;
Ranjan et al. 2005a). Parenteral administration of
vitamin C alone or along with intramammary antibi-
otics improves the cure rate in spontaneous cases of
bovine mastitis (Chaiyotwittayakun et al. 2002; Naresh
et al. 2002; Ranjan et al. 2005b). Vitamin C along with
cupric ions as teat dip or intra-mammary infusion also
helps in the prevention and treatment of mastitis in
dairy cows (Upton 1988). Weiss et al. (2004) observed
large decrease in vitamin C level in Escherichia coli-
induced mastitis. However, in another study, intrave-
nous administration of vitamin C in cows that received
an intramammary challenge of endotoxin had limited
positive effects on clinical signs (Chaiyotwittayakun
et al. 2002). Santos et al. (2001) reported that plasma
vitamin C concentrations in dairy cows do not corre-
late with somatic cell counts in milk.
5.5. Parasitic diseases
Decrease in vitamin C level in few parasitic diseases
including theileriosis (Sangwan and Sangwan 1999)
and fasciolosis (Curca and Tanasescu 1985) are on
record. Lower level of plasma vitamin C was also
reported in sheep infected with Fasciola hepatica
(Gameel 1982).
6. Ascorbic acid supplementation
7. Conclusion
Ascorbic acid is a strong antioxidant nutrient present
in blood plasma, neutrophils, and other body tissues. It
has diverse physiological functions and plays an
important role in the regulation of immune function
and offers protection from oxidative damage at many
cellular and sub-cellular levels. Though cattle can
synthesize vitamin C from D-glucose or D-galactose,
several reports suggest the decrease in its tissue
concentrations during various diseases and stress and
beneficial effects of its supplementation on the main-
tenance of health and fertility. However, extensive
research is required to explore the need and effect of
ascorbic acid supplementation to cattle. Alleviation of
heat stress, management of calf diarrhea, mastitis, and
infertility are some of the potential conditions in
which vitamin C supplementation may be helpful.
Development of rumen stable vitamin C supplements
and dose standardization is essential for its large-scale
use regarding preventive and therapeutic purposes.
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