Evaluation of a Lecithin Supplementation on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Lipid Metabolism, and Cecum Microbiota of Broilers.

Yiru Shen,Shourong Shi,Shan Zhang,Xu Zhao

doi:10.3390/ani11092537

Abstract

Simple SummaryLecithin can not only provide energy to animals but also serves as an emulsifier and has the potential to enhance the utilization of dietary fat by animals. Thus, there is a need to elucidate the underlying mechanism of the positive effect in broilers. The present feeding trial aims to evaluate the effect of lecithin on broilers’ performance, meat quality, lipid metabolism, and cecum microbiota. The obtained results revealed significant improvements in broiler meat quality resulting from the lipid metabolism and microbiota that were affected by lecithin treatment. Consequently, it could be used in broilers’ diets for the aim of meat quality improvement.The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lecithin on the performance, meat quality, lipid metabolism, and cecum microbiota of broilers. One hundred and ninety-two one-day-old AA broilers with similar body weights (38 ± 1.0 g) were randomly assigned to two groups with six replicates of sixteen birds each and were supplemented with 0 and 1 g/kg of lecithin for forty-two days. Performance and clinical observations were measured and recorded throughout the study. Relative organ weight, meat quality, lipid-related biochemical parameters and enzyme activities were also measured. Compared with broilers in the control group, broilers in the lecithin treatment group showed a significant increase in L* value and tenderness (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the abdominal adipose index of broilers was markedly decreased in lecithin treatment after 42 days (p < 0.05). In the lipid metabolism, broilers in the lecithin treatment group showed a significant increase in hepatic lipase and general esterase values at 21 days compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Lower Firmicutes and higher Bacteroidetes levels in phylum levels were observed in the lecithin treatment group after 21 and 42 days. The distribution of lactobacillus, clostridia, and rikenella in genus levels were higher in the lecithin treatment group after 21 and 42 days. No statistically significant changes were observed in performance, relative organ weight, or other serum parameters (p > 0.05). These results indicate that supplementation with lecithin significantly influence the lipid metabolism in broilers at 21 and 42 days, which resulted in the positive effect on the meat color, tenderness, and abdominal adipose in broilers.

Highlights

Introduction distributed under the terms andPhospholipids, which are found in thousands of organisms, are key components of the cell membrane
It was reported in a previous study that a diet supplemented with lecithin could increase the daily gain of nutrients and nutrient digestibility in animals [5]
The abdominal adipose tissue of the control group at 42 days was significantly higher compared with the lecithin treatment groups (p < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Introduction distributed under the terms andPhospholipids, which are found in thousands of organisms, are key components of the cell membrane. Dietary intake of exogenous phospholipids provides the majority of phospholipids organisms need. Lecithin can provide energy to animals and serves as an emulsifier and has the potential to enhance utilization of dietary fat by animals [3]. Lecithin has become a popular animal dietary supplement for increasing performance and nutrient utilization. The effect of lecithin on cholesterol reduction was validated in monkeys, hamsters, and many other species [4]. It was reported in a previous study that a diet supplemented with lecithin could increase the daily gain of nutrients and nutrient digestibility in animals [5]. Lecithin treatment in intestinal cell membranes alters the permeability of cell bilayers and resulted in the greater influx of micro- and macro-molecules across the cell membrane [6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion