The effects of in ovo feeding of selenized glucose on liver selenium concentration and antioxidant capacity in neonatal broilers

Abstract

Selenium is an essential trace element for humans and animals. As the active center of selenoproteins, the addition of selenium is beneficial to enhance the antioxidant ability. However, the high cost limits the application of organic Se in agriculture animal production. Selenized glucose (SeGlu) is a newly invented organoselenium material with good stability, low toxicity and low cost. This assay found that SeGlu was able to increase selenium deposition in liver of newborn broilers, and enhance the antioxidant capacity of liver by elevating the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. This paper as the first example clarifying the mechanism of SeGlu to enhance the antioxidant ability of chicks, shows that SeGlu can be used as an organic selenium enrichment additive for early nutrition of poultry. As a cross-discipline study involving chemistry, biology and agriculture animal science, the work may be beneficial for studies in related fields and prompt the development of the selenium science.