The impact of vitamin E and/or selenium dietary supplementation on growth parameters and expression levels of the growth-related genes in broilers

Meta-analysis of selenium effects on the meat quality of broilers

The effects of sodium selenite or selenium yeast on the meat quality of broilers were searched in the literature published in the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2022. Meta-analysis was performed with Stata software (StataCorp. 2011), and the standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random effects model. Twenty of the identified 846 literature sources, which included 791 broilers, were screened. The meat quality indices considered were shear force, drip loss, cooking loss, water holding capacity (WHC), pH, and color. The source of heterogeneity was studied using sensitivity and subgroup analyses, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots. The results showed that the supplementation of selenium in the broiler diet significantly reduced the shear force (SMD = -0.67, 95% CI [-1.12, -0.22], P < 0.05) and drip loss (SMD = -0.84, 95% CI [-1.39, -0.30], P < 0.05) and increased the pH (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI [0.01, 0.75], P < 0.05) of broiler breast muscle; however, it had no significant effects on other indices. Funnel plots revealed a slight publication bias in the shear force and pH of breast muscle but none in the drip loss of breast muscle. The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable and reliable. In conclusion, selenium supplementation in broiler feed can improve some indices of broiler meat quality, and its inclusion in broiler diets is recommended, in conjunction with other minerals, which is of great significance to improve the quality, preservation time and economic benefits of chicken products.

Strategies for Healthier Meat Foods: An Overview

Functional food products remain the focus of current market trends toward healthier nutrition. The consumption of meat-based functional foods has been a topic of interest in food innovation since some of these products generate controversy due to their possible adverse effects on health. However, studies have demonstrated that meat-based functional products are considered an opportunity to improve the nutritional profile of meat products through the addition of biologically valuable components and to meet the specific needs of consumers. In this sense, some strategies and techniques are applied for processing and developing functional meat products, such as modifying carcass composition through feeding, reformulating meat products, and processing conditions. This review focuses on presenting developed and evaluated strategies that allow the production of healthy and functional meat foods, which application has successfully achieved the sensory, nutritional, and technological parameters mainly affected by such application.

Impact of dietary vitamin (E) and Eruca sativa seeds powder on broiler productivity, health, carcass characteristics, and meat quality

This investigation examined the impact of nutritional vitamin E (VE) and Eruca sativa seeds powder (ESSP) on broilers' performance, physiological, and meat quality. A total of 350 two-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used in this study. Chicks were allocated into five dietary treatments as follows: control (fed a basic diet), VE treatment (fed a basic diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg diet), the third, fourth, and fifth treatments were fed a basic diet supplied by different levels of ESSP (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg diet). Outcomes showed that chicks of VE treatment or ESSP (0.2 g/kg) significantly improved vital body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Additionally, relevant dressing and hind parts of the carcass for birds of VE treatment or ESSP at different levels were significantly increased. The results showed a significant improvement in meat quality traits. Moreover, ESSP (0.1 and 0.2 g/kg) groups represented a significant decrease in the total bacterial count and E. coli compared with other groups. In conclusion, ESSP positively affected broiler performance, hematological, and immunological indices, carcass characteristics, intestinal bacterial count, meat quality, and cooking properties of the resulting meat, especially at the level of (0.2 g/kg).

Effects of β-carotene supplementation in the diet of laying breeder hens on the growth performance and liver development of offspring chicks

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, growth regulating factors, and liver morphology of chicks hatched from egg-laying breeding hens dietary supplemented with additives (β-carotene). Hy-line breeding hens were allocated into three groups with three replicates/group. The dietary treatments were as follows: basal diet as a control (Con), basal diet supplemented with 120 (βc-L) or 240 (βc-H) mg/kg of β-carotene diet. After 6 weeks, the eggs were collected and incubated. The hatched chicks were fed the same diet. The results showed that chicks in the βc-L group increased in body weight at 21 days (p < 0.01). At 42 days, chicks in the βc-H group showed a significant increase in tibia length (p < 0.05). The liver index increased in the βc-L and βc-H groups at 7 days (p < 0.05). Serum HGF (7, 14, 21, and 42 days) and leptin (14 days) were significantly increased in the group supplemented with βc. Hepatic GHR (14 days), IGF-1R (14 days), and LEPR (21 days) mRNA expression were significantly increased. In addition, there was an increase in PCNA-positive cells in the liver of chicks in the βc group. In conclusion, the addition of β-carotene to the diet of laying breeder hens was more advantageous in terms of growth performance and liver development of the offspring.

Effects of feeding diets with zinc-l-selenomethionine on growth performance of broilers subjected to cyclic heat stress

Limited information exists on the use of zinc-l-selenomethionine (Zn-L-SeMet) in broiler diets and its effects on the growth performance, body temperature, mortality rates, blood profile, and gene expression, especially when animals are reared under cyclic heat stress conditions. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Zn-L-SeMet in broiler diets from 1 to 42 days of age reared under cyclic heat stress and its effects on growth performance, cloacal temperatures, mortality rate, blood parameters, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene expression in the breast muscle. A total of 1000 male Cobb 500® broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments: 0, 0.15, 0.23, 0.47, and 1.30 mg/kg of Zn-L-SeMet. Each treatment consisted of 10 replicates with 20 birds each. No statistically significant differences in growth performance were observed from 1 to 21 days of age (P > 0.05). However, from 1 to 42 days, feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased linearly (P < 0.05). Cloacal temperatures showed no significant effects (P > 0.05), while overall mortality rate exhibited a quadratic response (P < 0.05), with the optimal inclusion level predicted to reduce broiler mortality at 0.71 mg/kg. Triglyceride (TRG) levels increased with 0.97 mg/kg (P < 0.05), and gama-glutamil transferase (GGT) levels decreased with the inclusion of 1.19 mg/kg (P < 0.05). No significant effects on IGF-1 and GHR gene expression were found (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of 1.30 mg/kg of Zn-L-SeMet in diets of heat-stressed broilers improved growth performance from 1 to 42 days of age. An inclusion of 0.71 mg/kg reduced mortality rate, while 0.97 mg and 1.19 mg increased and reduced TRG and GGT levels, respectively.

Preventing bacterial disease in poultry in the post-antibiotic era: a case for innate immunity modulation as an alternative to antibiotic use

The widespread use of antibiotics in the poultry industry has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which pose a significant health risk to humans and animals. These public health concerns, which have led to legislation limiting antibiotic use in animals, drive the need to find alternative strategies for controlling and treating bacterial infections. Modulation of the avian innate immune system using immunostimulatory compounds provides a promising solution to enhance poultry immune responses to a broad range of bacterial infections without the risk of generating antibiotic resistance. An array of immunomodulatory compounds have been investigated for their impact on poultry performance and immune responses. However, further research is required to identify compounds capable of controlling bacterial infections without detrimentally affecting bird performance. It is also crucial to determine the safety and effectiveness of these compounds in conjunction with poultry vaccines. This review provides an overview of the various immune modulators known to enhance innate immunity against avian bacterial pathogens in chickens, and describes the mechanisms involved.

The Interaction between Feed Bioactive Compounds and Chicken Genome

Consumer demand for high quality and safe foods that will have a positive impact on their health has increased in recent years. Today, it is possible to meet those demands by combining the genetic potential of domestic animals and applying different feeding strategies. Nutrigenomics is one of the "omics" sciences that studies the interaction between nutrients and the genome together with their influence on metabolic and physiological processes in the body. While nutrition of domestic animals is solely based on studying the influence of nutrients on animal health and production traits, nutrigenomics integrates the fields of nutrition, genomics, molecular genetics and bioinformatics. By understanding the molecular relationships between different forms and/or concentrations of nutrients in feed and genes, it is possible to answer the question of how small changes in the diet of farm animals can produce a quality product with positive effects on human health. The aim of this article is to describe how the manipulation of adding different nutrients in the feed affects the expression of different genes in chicken and consequently alters their phenotype.

Effects of selenium supplementation on the growth performance, slaughter characteristics, and blood biochemistry of naked neck chicken

This study examined how selenium-supplemented diets affected the performance of naked neck chickens. The birds were fed both organic and inorganic selenium at 0.30 ppm, while the control diet did not include any additional selenium. A total of 225 one-day-old naked neck chicks were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups, each of which was replicated 5 times (replicates) and contained 15 birds. This was done using a completely randomized design. The data was collected after growth, meat quality, and blood profile parameters were assessed. The findings showed that the birds fed inorganic selenium in the diet displayed increased (P < 0.05) feed intake followed by those administered organic selenium and the control diet. On the other hand, birds fed organic selenium in the diet showed enhanced body weight gain and better feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Similarly, organic selenium supplementation increased (P < 0.05) breast and thigh weight compared to inorganic selenium, but no other metrics, such as dressing percentage, drumstick weight, liver weight, gizzard weight, heart weight, or wing weight, significantly differed between treatments (P > 0.05). When compared to birds fed inorganic Se and control diet, the birds fed organic Se had greater (P < 0.05) blood levels of total protein and globulin. Additionally, it was discovered that organic Se-fed birds had greater (P < 0.05) blood Se concentrations than control and inorganic Se-fed birds. However, no differences between treatments were found in albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, or uric acid (P > 0.05). In conclusion, adding Se-enriched yeast, as an organic selenium source, to diets may enhance the poor growth and slaughter characteristics of naked neck chicks without negatively affecting blood chemistry.

Selenium in Bodily Homeostasis: Hypothalamus, Hormones, and Highways of Communication

The ability of the body to maintain homeostasis requires constant communication between the brain and peripheral tissues. Different organs produce signals, often in the form of hormones, which are detected by the hypothalamus. In response, the hypothalamus alters its regulation of bodily processes, which is achieved through its own pathways of hormonal communication. The generation and transmission of the molecules involved in these bi-directional axes can be affected by redox balance. The essential trace element selenium is known to influence numerous physiological processes, including energy homeostasis, through its various redox functions. Selenium must be obtained through the diet and is used to synthesize selenoproteins, a family of proteins with mainly antioxidant functions. Alterations in selenium status have been correlated with homeostatic disturbances in humans and studies with animal models of selenoprotein dysfunction indicate a strong influence on energy balance. The relationship between selenium and energy metabolism is complicated, however, as selenium has been shown to participate in multiple levels of homeostatic communication. This review discusses the role of selenium in the various pathways of communication between the body and the brain that are essential for maintaining homeostasis.

Vitamin E and Metabolic Health: Relevance of Interactions with Other Micronutrients

A hundred years have passed since vitamin E was identified as an essential micronutrient for mammals. Since then, many biological functions of vitamin E have been unraveled in both cell and animal models, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as regulatory activities on cell signaling and gene expression. However, the bioavailability and physiological functions of vitamin E have been considerably shown to depend on lifestyle, genetic factors, and individual health conditions. Another important facet that has been considered less so far is the endogenous interaction with other nutrients. Accumulating evidence indicates that the interaction between vitamin E and other nutrients, especially those that are enriched by supplementation in humans, may explain at least some of the discrepancies observed in clinical trials. Meanwhile, increasing evidence suggests that the different forms of vitamin E metabolites and derivates also exhibit physiological activities, which are more potent and mediated via different pathways compared to the respective vitamin E precursors. In this review, possible molecular mechanisms between vitamin E and other nutritional factors are discussed and their potential impact on physiological and pathophysiological processes is evaluated using published co-supplementation studies.

Selenium and/or vitamin E upregulate the antioxidant gene expression and parameters in broilers

BACKGROUND

In contrast to free radicals, the first line of protection is assumed to be vitamin E and selenium. The present protocol was designed to assess the roles of vitamin E and/or a selenium-rich diet that affected the blood iron and copper concentrations, liver tissue antioxidant and lipid peroxidation, and gene expression linked to antioxidants in the liver tissue of broilers. The young birds were classified according to the dietary supplement into four groups; control, vitamin E (100 mg Vitamin/kg diet), selenium (0.3 mg sodium selenite/kg diet), and vitamin E pulse selenium (100 mg vitamin/kg diet with 0.3 mg sodium selenite/kg diet) group.

RESULTS

The results of this experiment suggested that the addition of vitamin E with selenium in the broiler diet significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) serum iron when compared with the other groups and serum copper when compared with the vitamin E group. Moreover, the supplements (vitamin E or vitamin E with selenium) positively affected the enzymatic activity of the antioxidant-related enzymes with decreased malondialdehyde (MDA),which represents lipid peroxidation in broiler liver tissue. Moreover, the two supplements significantly upregulated genes expression related to antioxidants.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, vitamin E and/or selenium can not only act as exogenous antioxidants to prevent oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals and superoxide, but also act as gene regulators, regulating the expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes.

Elevated dietary selenium rescues mitochondrial capacity impairment induced by decreased vitamin E intake in young exercising horses

Maintenance of mitochondrial health, which is supported in part by dietary antioxidants such as selenium (Se) and vitamin E (vitE), is pertinent to optimizing athletic performance. Deficiencies in Se and vitE negatively impact muscle health but mitochondrial adaptations to various levels of dietary Se and vitE are poorly understood. Young Quarter Horses (mean ± SD: 17.6 ± 0.9 mo) undergoing submaximal exercise training were used to test the hypothesis that a proprietary antioxidant blend containing elevated Se yeast (EconomasE, Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY) would improve mitochondrial characteristics compared to Se at current requirements, even with reduced vitE intake. Horses were balanced by age, sex, body weight (BW), and farm of origin and randomly assigned to one of three custom-formulated concentrates fed at 1% BW (dry matter, DM basis) for 12 wk: 1) 100 IU vitE/kg DM and 0.1 mg Se/kg DM (CON, n = 6); 2) no added vitE plus EconomasE to provide 0.1 mg Se/kg DM (ESe1, n = 6); or 3) no added vitE plus EconomasE to provide 0.3 mg Se/kg DM (ESe3, n = 6). Samples collected at week 0 and 12 were analyzed for serum Se and middle gluteal glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and mitochondrial enzyme activities by kinetic colorimetry and mitochondrial capacities by high-resolution respirometry. Data were analyzed using mixed linear models in SAS v9.4 with repeated measures (time) and fixed effects of time, diet, and time × diet; horse(diet) served as a random effect. Serum Se tended to increase in all horses by week 12 (P = 0.08) but was unaffected by diet. Muscle GPx activity remained similar among all horses throughout the duration of the study. Mitochondrial volume density (citrate synthase [CS] activity), integrative function (cytochrome c oxidase [CCO] activity per mg protein), and integrative (per mg tissue) oxidative (P) and electron transfer (E) capacities increased from week 0 to 12 in all horses (P ≤ 0.01). Intrinsic (relative to CS) CCO activity decreased in all horses (P = 0.001), while intrinsic P and E capacities decreased only in ESe1 horses from week 0 to 12 (P ≤ 0.002). These results suggest that feeding EconomasE to provide 0.3 mg Se/kg DM may prevent adverse effects of removing 100 IU dietary vitE/kg DM on mitochondria in young horses. More research is needed to determine optimal dietary Se and vitE levels in performance horses to maximize mitochondrial energy production.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles induce dose-dependent toxicosis in broiler chickens reared in summer season

This research evaluates the effect of dietary zinc oxide nanoparticles' (ZnO NPs) supplementation on growth performance, immunity, oxidative antioxidative properties, and histopathological picture of broiler chicken reared in the summer season. A total of 224 1-day-old male Cobb chicks were randomly allocated to seven groups of dietary treatments (n = 32). Seven isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated. ZnO NPs were added to the basal diet at seven different levels, 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 ppm/kg diet, respectively, for 35 days. Results indicated that live body weight (g) did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between treatment groups, whereas compared to control, the 5 ppm ZnO NPs/kg diet recorded the highest live body weight at 21 and 35 days. No significant effects for the feed consumption (g/bird/period) and feed conversion ratio (g feed/g gain) among treated and control birds were observed. Hematological and immunological variables showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) dose-dependent modulations by ZnO NP supplementation. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences were observed in the phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, and IgM and IgG between the treatment groups, with the 5 and 10 ppm ZnO NPs/kg diet recording the best values, followed by the 20 ppm ZnO NPs/kg diet. Different supplementations had nonsignificant effects on the digestibility of nutrients (P ≤ 0.05). Histopathological pictures of the kidney, liver, and lymphoid organs, ultrastructural examination of muscle tissues, and expression of inflammatory cytokines showed dose-dependent morphological and structural changes. In conclusion, the ZnO NP supplementation in broiler diet to eliminate the heat stress hazards in summer season is recommended in dose level of not more than 10 ppm/kg diet.

Effect of stocking density and vitamin E or zinc supplementation on growth, physiology, gene expression, and economic efficiency of growing broiler chicks

A total of 636 1-day-old male Cobb chicks were randomly assigned to seven treatments. The chicks were offered feed and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. The first three groups included different stocking densities of broiler birds (low stocking density, LSD: 23 kg/m²; medium stocking density, MSD: 34 kg birds/m²; and high stocking density HSD: 39 kg birds/m²). The LSD group was considered a control group. The other four groups included MSD or HSD broiler birds supplemented with either Vit E (100 mg/kg DM diet; MSDVE and HSDVE) or Zn (100 mg/kg DM diet; MSDZn and HSDZn) in their basal diet. The main findings indicated that HSD and MSD negatively affected (p < 0.05) all variables under investigation compared with LSD. Compared with LSD, broiler birds in the MSD and HSD groups had lower body weights and higher feed conversion ratios, higher concentrations of blood plasma hormones (triiodothyronine thyroxine and corticosterone), and downregulated expression levels of hepatic growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-l. In addition, broiler birds stocked at medium or high densities resulted in less economic return and profit. Vit E or Zn supplementation to broiler birds stocked at medium or high densities significantly reversed all adverse effects of HSD (> 23 kg/m²) on growth performance, hormones, and gene expression. It could be recommended that adding Zn at a level of 100 mg/kg per DM diet allows increasing the stocking density of broiler birds from 23 kg/m² to 34 birds/m² while maintaining the birds, welfare and economic profit.