Phytol supplementation alters plasma concentrations of formate, amino acids, and lipid metabolites in sheep

The phytol moiety in chlorophyll molecules acts as an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α in monogastric animals. The current study aimed to clarify the effects of dietary supplementation with phytol on the plasma concentrations of formate and amino acids related to one-carbon (1C) donors and its effects on lipid metabolism in sheep. Four mature sheep were fed with a mixed ration (metabolizable energy, 10.7 MJ/kg DM; CP, 150 g/kg DM) comprising barley, rice bran, soybean meal, and oat hay at 1.5 times maintenance metabolizable energy for three consecutive 14-day experimental periods. The first and third periods served as controls without phytol supplementation, while in the second period, phytol was added to the mixed ration at 12 g/kg of dietary DM per day. In each period, feces, urine, and jugular blood samples were collected. Dry matter intake in relation to metabolic BW was slightly lower (P