Effects of Several Types of Dietary Fibers on Lipid Content in Liver and Plasma, Nutrient Retentions and Plasma Transaminase Activities in Force-Fed Growing Chicks

Abstract

Lipid content and lipid composition of liver and plasma, nutrient retention and plasma transaminase activity were determined in White Leghorn male chicks that were force-fed a purified high energy diet supplemented with or without dietary fiber for 13 days. Six types of dietary fibers, cellulose-A and -B, rice hull, rice hull NDF, alfalfa meal and peanut hull NDF, and a synthetic fiber, polyamide, were supplemented at the level of 4% in each experimental diet. Liver lipid content was significantly depressed by the cellulose, rice hull NDF, alfalfa meal and polyamide diets. Plasma lipid concentration was significantly reduced by the cellulose, alfalfa meal and polyamide diets but was not influenced by the rice hull, rice hull NDF and peanut hull NDF diets. Retentions of energy, nitrogen and lipid were not depressed by addition of the dietary fibers. These find ings suggest that the depression of liver lipid content by feeding certain dietary fibers is independent of the reduction of nutrient absorption in the force-fed growing chicks. Activities of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase were elevated by force-feeding and were reduced by feeding the cellulose, rice hull NDF, alfalfa meal and polyamide diets. It is suggested that dietary fibers are effective not only in reducing the liver lipid content but also in alleviating liver dysfunction induced by force-feeding in growing chicks, although mechanism of action of each dietary fiber may not be identical. J. Nutr. 110: 1112-1121,