Relation Between Inflammatory Parameters and Insulin Resistance Indices in Cows During Early Lactation

Background/Objectives: Early lactation in high-producing dairy cows is a critical period characterized by pronounced negative energy balance, enhanced lipomobilization, and the development of insulin resistance (IR), often accompanied by low-grade systemic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of inflammatory markers and IR indices in early-lactation cows, assess their interrelationships, and evaluate the effects of NSAID administration. Methods: Thirty Holstein-Friesian cows were included and allocated into a control group (n = 15) and a treatment group (n = 15), which received ketoprofen (3 mg/kg BW intramuscularly) during the first postpartal week. Blood samples were collected at weeks 0, 1, and 2 postpartum to measure TNF-α, IL-1β, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, NEFA, glucose, and insulin concentrations. Surrogate indices of IR, including RQUICKI, HOMA-IR, QUICKI, and Adipo-IR, were calculated. Results: In the control group, TNF-α, IL-1β, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, and NEFA progressively increased over the first two weeks, accompanied by elevated adipose tissue IR, evidenced by decreased RQUICKI and increased Adipo-IR. Positive correlations were observed between inflammatory markers and NEFA, as well as between TNF-α and IL-1β with Adipo-IR. Conversely, negative correlations were found between inflammatory markers and glucose and insulin, and between TNF-α and RQUICKI, as well as IL-1β and haptoglobin with glucose. Conclusions: Ketoprofen administration significantly reduced inflammatory markers and NEFA while improving RQUICKI and Adipo-IR, without altering the overall relationships among the parameters. These findings indicate that inflammatory cytokines and adipose tissue IR indices serve as reliable parameters for monitoring the interaction between inflammation and IR, and for assessing the metabolic effects of NSAID treatment in early-lactation cows.