Limited information exists about the relationship of adipose tissue with inflammation, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism during the transition period in dairy cows. The objective of the present study was to assess the changes and relation of some adipokines, cytokines, oxidative biomarkers, and serum biochemical parameters related to energy balance in cows during the transition period. Thirty multiparous Holstein cows were selected based on estimated parturition date, and blood samples were collected from jugular vein on one week prepartum and one and three weeks postpartum and used to measure the parameters. The serum levels of beta hydroxybutyric acid, non-esterified fatty acid, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase, and total antioxidant capacity increased significantly, and glucose, urea, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein significantly decreased after parturition (P<0.05). The serum values of adiponectin, resistin, leptin, and cytokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α) were not changed significantly during the experiment. The results of the Pearson correlation revealed a significant negative correlation between BHB with glucose, albumin, cholesterol, LDL, and HDL and a positive correlation with triglyceride, and malondialdehyde. Also, there was a significant direct correlation between insulin and leptin, adiponectin, resistin, IL-6, and TNF-α in the whole experiment period. These emphasize the difficulty of dairy cows to manage the energy requirements during the transition period. It can be stated that adipokines and cytokines may have an essential role in the metabolic status in this period, and control of their production and, or secretion could be helpful in energy balance during the transition period.

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