Inulin as a growth promoter in diets for rabbits

Rocío Salas Montiel,Alejandro Azaola,Irene Torres Acosta,Enrique Villarreal Delgado,Fernando Pérez-Gil Romo,María Eugenia Juárez-Silva

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982013001200008

Abstract

Sixty New Zealand rabbits aged 40 days were divided into 4 groups of 15 animals. The control group received a free diet of antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) and inulin. The second group was supplemented with 2.5 g/kg of inulin. The third was administered AGP with 0.1 g/kg of flavomycin. Finally, the fourth group received a 2.5 and 0.1 g/kg inulin/AGP diet. Body weight gain was higher in the control group. Rabbits supplemented with inulin had lower values of triglycerides compared with the control and AGP groups, and their glucose level was significantly lower than those treated with AGP. Additionally, serum calcium and magnesium concentrations were higher than the other groups, particularly with regard to AGP. The bone content with regard to calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the groups treated with inulin was higher compared with the control; moreover, phosphorus and magnesium were higher than in the AGP group. The thickness of the mucosa and crypt depth in the caecum were significantly higher in rabbits treated with inulin than in the other groups, but especially compared with the AGP group. Also, triglyceride values were lower for rabbits treated with inulin/AGP than for those treated with AGP and the bone magnesium concentration was significantly higher compared with the control group. In addition, inulin was shown to have positive effects on the rabbit, promoting increase in bone and serum calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, decrease in triglyceride levels, and improvement in the caecum (changes in morphology, crypt depth and mucosal thickness).

Highlights

The use of low-dose antibiotics as growth promoters in animal production has been linked to the resistance of some bacteria and public health implications (Allen et al, 2011; Huber et al, 2011)
The effect of inulin on the regulation of blood glucose and lipid metabolism has been studied (Delzenne et al, 2002; Verbrugghe et al, 2009). It stimulates the absorption of calcium and magnesium, which helps to strengthen the skeletal system (Scholz-Ahrens & Schrezenmeir, 2002), because the degradation of inulin by bifidobacteria and lactobacilli increases the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA), acidifies the microenvironment of the large intestine and increases the ionized and soluble fraction of the present minerals, facilitating its absorption (Demigné et al, 2008; Varley et al, 2010)
Digestible energy was higher in the two treatments with inulin, probably due to their prebiotic effect observed in digestible energy values (Table 2), which was higher for the diet with inulin than the inulin/animal growth promoters (AGP) group, which might be due to the antibiotic effect on the intestinal microbiota

Summary

Introduction

The use of low-dose antibiotics as growth promoters in animal production has been linked to the resistance of some bacteria and public health implications (Allen et al, 2011; Huber et al, 2011). The effect of inulin on the regulation of blood glucose and lipid metabolism has been studied (Delzenne et al, 2002; Verbrugghe et al, 2009). It stimulates the absorption of calcium and magnesium, which helps to strengthen the skeletal system (Scholz-Ahrens & Schrezenmeir, 2002), because the degradation of inulin by bifidobacteria and lactobacilli increases the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA), acidifies the microenvironment of the large intestine and increases the ionized and soluble fraction of the present minerals, facilitating its absorption (Demigné et al, 2008; Varley et al, 2010)

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