Dietary Treatment Groups Research Articles

Partial replacement of soybean meal with mixed plant proteins yields comparable growth and carcass quality in growing-finishing pigs.

This study evaluated the impacts of partial replacement of soybean meal with different concentrations of mixed plant protein products (rapeseed meal (RSM) - palm kernel meal (PKM) -distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS)) on growth performance and carcass quality of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 180 crossbred [Yorkshire x Landrace] pigs with average initial weight of 29.72 + 1.65 Kg were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatment groups on the basis of weight and sex, and the experimental duration was 105 days. The basal diet (C23ON) of growing and finishing pigs were partially replaced with increasing level of RSM-PKM-DDGS (1 to 5% for growing pigs, and 2 to 6% for finishers). Each treatment group had 9 replicate pens, each containing 2 barrows and 2 gilts. During the 15-week trial, body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated for the periods of weeks 0-5, weeks 5-10, week 10-15, and for the entire experimental period. The partial replacement of soybean meal with mixed plant protein products (RSM, PKM-DDGS) showed no significant effect on the growth performance of pigs during the entire experimental period (p > 0.05). However, a decreasing ADG (p = 0.0837) and ADFI (p = 0.0779) were observed during weeks 0-5, while an increasing FCR was noted during weeks 10-15 (p = 0.0835) and the overall period. Furthermore, the replacement of soybean meal with mixed plant protein products (RSM-PKM-DDGS) showed no linear or quadratic effects on the digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), energy (E), fecal scores, or meat quality. This suggests that mixed plant protein products (RSM, PKM, and DDGS) can effectively replace soybean meal as the primary protein source, providing comparable outcomes while potentially reducing feed costs.

Fermented Cassava Residue Meal Improves Meat Quality by Regulating Muscle Fiber and Enhancing Lipid Metabolism in Huanjiang Mini-Pigs.

This research investigated the effects of cassava residue meal (CRM) and fermented CRM (FCRM) on the growth performance, serum lipid indicators, carcass traits, and meat quality of Huanjiang mini-pigs. One hundred twenty Huanjiang mini-pigs with similar BW (body weight, 8.85 ± 0.64 kg) were divided into three dietary treatment groups: the CON group with a basal diet; the CRM group with a diet containing 5% CRM; and the FCRM group with a diet containing 5% FCRM. The feeding trial was conducted for 30 days. The findings revealed that dietary CRM and FCRM did not influence the growth performance and diarrhea rate of Huanjiang mini-pigs (p > 0.05). Dietary FCRM supplementation increased serum total cholesterol level compared to the CON group while decreasing serum cholinesterase level compared to the CON and CRM groups (p < 0.05). The level of serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was higher (p < 0.05) in the CRM and FCRM groups in regard to the CON group. In addition, CRM and FCRM supplementation reduced (p < 0.05) the backfat thickness and carcass yield of Huanjiang mini-pigs. The meat quality analysis showed that dietary CRM and FCRM improved the meat quality by increasing the intramuscular fat content and redness (a*) value and decreasing the lightness (L*) value. Moreover, the MyHC-IIx expression in the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle was upregulated (p < 0.05) in the CRM group, while MYHC-IIb expression displayed an increasing trend (p = 0.076) in the FCRM group relative to the CON group. The fatty acid composition in the LT muscle also revealed that the C20:0 level was lower in the CRM and FCRM groups, while the ∑SFA and ∑SFA/∑UFA were reduced (p < 0.05) in the FCRM group relative to the CON group. In summary, dietary CRM and FCRM supplementation improved the meat quality of Huanjiang mini-pigs without affecting growth performance and diarrhea rate. Notably, FCRM exhibited better effects on meat quality than CRM.

Maternal aspartame exposure alters lung Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in offspring through nuclear factor-κB activation.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that maternal intake of nonnutritive sweeteners is positively associated with early childhood asthma incidence. We investigated the effects of maternal aspartame exposure during pregnancy and lactation on lung Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and intestinal microbiota in offspring and explored the mechanisms that mediate these effects. Pregnant BALB/c mice were randomly divided on gestational day 7 into two dietary intervention groups: control (drinking water only) and aspartame (drinking water+0.25g/L aspartame) groups. The dams nursed their offspring for 3weeks. On postnatal day 21, heart blood samples were collected, and immunoglobulin E levels were measured. Microorganisms from the lower gastrointestinal tract were sampled using a culture-independent approach. Lung tissues were harvested for biochemical analyses. Maternal aspartame exposure increased the body weight of the dams from gestational day 7 to postnatal day 21 and the body weight of the offspring from birth to postnatal day 21. Maternal aspartame exposure significantly increased the levels of Th2 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and IL-17 and immunoglobulin E but reduced that of a Th1 cytokine (interferon-γ) in the offspring's lung tissues. The altered Th1/Th2 balance was accompanied by increased lung nuclear factor-κB activation. The bacterial composition and alpha-diversity of the gut microbiota of the offspring did not differ significantly between the control and aspartame groups. Our findings suggest maternal aspartame exposure influences lung Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in offspring through nuclear factor-κB activation.

Effectiveness of Basak (Adhatoda vasica) Leaf Extract on Growth Performance and Heamato-Biochemical Profile of Sonali Chicken

This research was done to find out how supplementing with basak (Adhatoda vasica) leaf extract affected Sonali chickens’ growth performance and carcass qualities. 180 chickens in all were divided into four dietary experimentation groups at random, with each group taking up three replications. Dietary groups included control (T0), basak at 2 ml/L of water (T1), basak at 4 ml/L of water (T2), and basak at 6 ml/L of water (T3), respectively. A total of 63 days into the experiment, two birds from each replication were randomly chosen and slaughtered to measure the carcass characteristics. The collected data were analysed using ANOVA with SPSS version 25. Weekly live weight and feed consumption data were also gathered throughout the trial. Across the experimental groups, there was no discernible difference in initial body weight (P&gt;0.05). The greatest value was recorded at T2 (908.10±3.03g) in comparison to the other three experimental groups, and the final live weight was substantially different among the experimental groups (P&gt;0.05). The difference in total body weight gain across the experimental groups was statistically significant (P&gt;0.05), with the T2 group recording the greatest result (873.48±0.720 g) when compared to the other three groups. Total feed intake varied significantly between the treatment groups. The T1 group had the best feed conversion ratio (1.827±0.03), and there were significant differences in feed conversion ratio across the experimental groups (P&gt;0.05). The experimental groups significantly differed from one another in terms of daily live weight gain (P&gt;0.05). There were significant differences in the weights of the carcass, breast, drumstick, thigh, and wings across the various treatment groups (P&gt;0.05). The lipid profile was significantly different (P&gt;0.05) among the dietary treatment groups. Net profit was found to significantly (P&gt;0.05) differ across the experimental groups, with the T2 group achieving the greatest value (66.52 tk) and the T0 group having the least price (44.58 tk). Therefore, basak leaf extract may be supplemented with basal feeds to enhance the carcass yield, growth performance, and net profit of sonali chicken.

Effects of Dietary Resveratrol and Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Meal Supplements on Quail Egg Production, Quality, and Consumer Acceptance.

This study aimed to examine the effects of supplementing a basal diet with resveratrol and black soldier fly (Hermetiaillucens) larvae meal on Manchurian Golden quail egg production and quality as well as consumer attitudes towards the quail eggs and their acceptability. Quail were allotted three treatments for a laying period of 3 months. The dietary treatment groups were those of a basal diet, a basal diet with 250 mg/kg resveratrol pliusACE, and a diet supplemented with 10% black soldier fly larvae meal (BSF). The BSF larvae meal supplement increased the live weight of the quail, but the differences in the mean egg production and egg external parameters between the experimental groups were insignificant. The egg yolk from the quail fed with resveratrol and BSF supplementation demonstrated lower (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01) pH compared with the quail fed a basal diet. Egg yolk colour showed lower (p < 0.05) lightness and lower (p < 0.01) yellowness and colour saturation in the group of quail fed with resveratrol supplement compared with BSF supplement. Resveratrol inclusion in the basal diet resulted in increased (p < 0.001) protein content in the yolk. BSF inclusion in the diet showed the effect by increasing (p < 0.001) dry matter in albumen. The total monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cholesterol content were not affected by the dietary treatment. The inclusion of BSF larvae meal in the diet increased the proportion of total saturated fatty acids and lowered the proportion of total trans fatty acids in yolk lipids and demonstrated less favourable ratios of fatty acids and nutritional indices, except for the peroxidisability index, and showed higher oxidative status (p < 0.05), flavour score, and overall egg acceptance compared with the quail fed on a basal diet.

Sub-chronic administartion of Jojoba oil meal (simmondisa chinensis) induce thyrotoxicity in rabbits

Investigations were carried out to study the effect of supplementation of jojoba meal (Simmondisa chinensis) on biochemical, haematological and thyroid hormone profile in broiler rabbits. A total of fourty New Zealand white rabbits (4 week old) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatment groups, comprising ten rabbits in each group. The control group (T0) was fed with complete feed with no jojoba oil meal and test groups were fed complete feed with 5, 15 and 25 per cent jojoba oil meal in T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively. Hematology and serum biochemical profile indicated reduction in haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and total erythrocyte count (TEC) in T2 and T3 groups compared to T0 and T1groups on 30th day of study, while serum calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol and total protein were not affected. It was observed that serum tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4) levels in jojoba meal treated rabbits were declined in dose-dependent manner due to thyrotoxicity. Toxicopathological lesions include infiltration of inflammatory cells (T1) or inter-follicular thyroiditis in rabbits fed jojoba meal @ either 15 (T2) or 25 % (T3).

Taurine efflux counters the hydrodynamic impact of anaerobic metabolism to protect cardiorespiratory function under acute thermal stress in brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis).

Upper thermal tolerance may be limited by convective oxygen transport in fish, but the mechanisms constraining heart function remain elusive. The activation of anaerobic metabolism imposes an osmotic stress on cardiomyocytes at high temperatures that must be countered to prevent swelling and cardiac dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that cardiac taurine efflux is required to counter the osmotic impact of anaerobic end product accumulation in brook char, Salvelinus fontinalis. Fish were fed a diet enriched in β-alanine, a competitive inhibitor of the taurine transporter, to induce taurine deficiency and inhibit transporter function. In vivo, stroke volume increased by 60% and cardiac output doubled in control fish during a 2 °C h-1 thermal ramp. Stroke volume was temperature-insensitive in taurine deficient (TD) fish so cardiac output was 30% lower at high temperatures. The thermal sensitivity of aerobic metabolism did not differ, and lactate accumulated to a similar degree in both diet treatment groups, indicating that taurine deficiency does not impact energy metabolism. Heart taurine efflux was absent and ventricular muscle osmolality was 40 mOsmol kg-1 higher in TD brook char following thermal stress. Swelling and decreased ventricular compliance likely impair diastolic filling to constrain stroke volume in TD fish. The adrenaline sensitivity of cardiac contractility and the regulation of intracellular pH in brain and liver were also impacted in TD brook char. Taurine efflux appears necessary to counteract the hydrodynamic impact of activating anaerobic metabolism and this process may limit heart function under acute thermal stress.

Pregestational BMI Over 23 kg/m2 May Increase Insulin Utilization in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

The purpose of this study is to examine the pregestational BMIvalue that results in insulin use in Japanese patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to assess whether the type of GDM treatment affects postpartum glucose tolerance. This retrospective study included 21 GDM patients treated until parturition at our department from 2013 to 2017. We calculated the pregestational BMI related to insulin treatment and the significant elevation in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) by receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis. We also analyzed whether the insulin treatment caused a difference in postpartum glucose tolerance. Seven of the eight patients who needed insulin treatment had a pregestational BMI over 23 kg/m2. The pregestational BMI cutoff value related to insulin treatment was 22.5 kg/m2 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 46.2%, area under the curve 0.668, and Confidence Interval=0.429-0.907) in ROC analysis. Insulin utilization was significantly higher in the group with a pregestational BMI of 22.5 or more (p=0.045). HOMA-IR at postpartum was higher in patients whose pregestational BMI was 22.5kg/m2 or more. Blood glucose levels, HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of β-cellfunction (HOMA-β), and the insulinogenic index (IGI) after delivery did not differ between the diet and insulin treatment groups. In conclusion, Japanese women with GDM and a pregestational BMI over 23 kg/m2 may increase the risk of requiring insulin treatment during pregnancy. Postpartum glucose tolerance did not differ between patients treated with diet or insulin treatment for GDM.

Effect of dietary fat source on the composition of the cecal microbiome in maturing broiler chicken.

Diet has been found to significantly influence gut microbiota throughout various life stages, and gut microbiota have been increasingly shown to influence host physiology, health, and behavior. This study uses 16S rRNA sequencing to examine the effects of six different fat-supplemented diets (canola oil, coconut oil, fish oil, flaxseed oil, lard, and olive oil) on broiler chicken cecal microbial composition and predicted function in comparison with a common and inexpensive fat source (poultry fat). Groups of broilers were fed each of these diets and then evaluated on day 41 and day 55 of age. For both 41- and 55-day samples, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla were the dominant bacteria in the ceca accounting for 99% of the microbial community. Across the 41- and 55-day samples, treatment time was associated with a stronger and more significant microbiota shift (p < 0.001) than differences in dietary treatment alone (p = 0.117), but dietary treatment combined with treatment time is a significant factor as well (p = 0.047). Sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis was used to explore the more discriminating taxa for each treatment group. For identified species, butyrate production appears to be affected in a diet-specific manner, with many butyrate-producing species being evident for the fish-based diet at day 41 and a few of these species for the flaxseed-based diet at day 55. Predicted functions, as conducted with PICRUSt2, were significant for comparisons between the control and the flaxseed-based dietary treatment group at day 55, with indications of host health benefit for the flaxseed-based diet. Predicted functions found to be significant were for enzymes and pathways such as propionate CoA ligase, aminobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase, vitamin B12-transporting ATPase, thiamine kinase, acetylneuraminate epimerase, and L-tryptophan biosynthesis. This study provides insight surrounding specific dietary fat-based treatments to be investigated further and highlights the importance of polyunsaturated fat sources in poultry feed that may offer a favorable cecal microbial modulation compared to saturated fat sources.

Influences of Fermented Corn Straw Fiber on Performance and Nutrient Utilization in Different Breeds of Finishing Pigs.

This study aimed to explore the effects of dietary fiber level and breed on the growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology, slaughter performance, and meat quality of finishing pigs using fermented corn straw (FCS) as the fiber source. The experiment employed a 2 × 4 factorial design, selecting 96 Songliao Black (SLB) and Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) crossbred finishing pigs (a total of 192 pigs, with an initial body weight of 60.52 ± 4.59 kg) randomly assigned by breed to four dietary treatment groups (A: 2.92% crude fiber; B: 4.82% crude fiber; C: 6.86% crude fiber; D: 9.01% crude fiber). The results showed that DLY finishing pigs had higher final weight (FW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in both finishing stages 1 and 2 compared to SLB pigs (p < 0.05), while the ratio of feed to weight gain (F/G) showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). Compared to the basal diet, increasing the dietary fiber level to 4.82% improved FW and ADG in both SLB and DLY finishing pigs (p < 0.05) and reduced F/G (p < 0.05). Additionally, SLB finishing pigs had lower ether extract (EE) digestibility but higher crude fiber (CF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility than DLY (p < 0.05). Dietary fiber level and breed exhibited an interaction effect on dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) digestibility in finishing pigs (p < 0.05). At a dietary fiber level of 4.82%, villus height, crypt depth in the jejunum, and cecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were increased in both SLB and DLY finishing pigs (p < 0.05). Dietary fiber level and breed showed an interaction effect on cecal VFA production in finishing pigs (finishing stage 1; p < 0.05). The dietary fiber level of 4.82% increased loin eye area (LA) (p < 0.05) and decreased backfat thickness (BT) (p < 0.05) in both SLB and DLY finishing pigs. Dietary fiber level and breed had an interaction effect on LA in finishing pigs (p < 0.05). SLB pigs had higher muscle redness (a*), shear force, and contents of crude protein (CP), EE, saturated fatty acid (SFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than DLY (p < 0.05). Increasing the dietary fiber level improved pH24h and reduced drip loss and shear force in both SLB and DLY finishing pigs (p < 0.05). Dietary fiber level and breed showed an interaction effect on pig meat color and drip loss (p < 0.05). In conclusion, FCS is a beneficial source of dietary fiber for SLB and DLY pigs. Its proper addition can enhance the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in fattening pigs.

Prickly Ash Seeds Improve the Ruminal Epithelial Development and Growth Performance of Hu Sheep by Modulating the Rumen Microbiota and Metabolome.

It is known that the addition of feed rich in bioactive components to animal diets will affect rumen fermentation parameters and flora structure. However, research on the regulatory effects of prickly ash seeds (PASs) during rumen development or on the rumen microbiome and its metabolites in sheep is limited. The current study was designed to explore the effects of PASs on sheep rumen development and growth performance using metagenomics and metabolomics. Eighteen 3-month-old Hu lambs were randomly allotted to three different dietary treatment groups: 0% (basal diet, CK), 3% (CK with 3% PAS, low-dose PAS, LPS), and 6% (CK with 6% PAS, high-dose PAS, HPS) PASs. The lambs were slaughtered to evaluate production performance. Our results showed that dietary PAS addition improved the average daily gain and reduced the F/G ratio of the experimental animals. Additionally, the height and width of the rumen papilla in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the CK group. The fermentation parameters showed that the levels of acetate and butyrate were significantly higher in the LPS group than in the CK and HPS groups. The propionate levels in the HPS group were significantly higher than those in the CK and LPS groups. Metagenomics analysis revealed that PAS dietary supplementation improved the abundance of Clostridiales and Bacteroidales and reduced the abundance of Prevotella, Butyrivibrio, and Methanococcus. Metabolomic analyses revealed that increased metabolite levels, such as those of serotonin, L-isoleucine, and L-valine, were closely related to growth-related metabolic pathways. The correlations analyzed showed that papilla height and muscular thickness were positively and negatively correlated with serotonin and L-valine, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG) was positively and negatively correlated with L-valine and several Prevotella, respectively. In addition, muscular thickness was positively correlated with Sodaliphilus pleomorphus, four Prevotella strains, Sarcina_sp_DSM_11001, and Methanobrevibacter_thaueri. Overall, PAS addition improved sheep growth performance by regulating beneficial microorganism and metabolite abundances, facilitating bacterial and viral invasion resistance.

Effects of Prickly Ash Seed Dietary Supplementation on Meat Quality, Antioxidative Capability, and Metabolite Characteristics of Hu Lambs.

In China, the processing of prickly ash (PA) produces a large number of by-products, including prickly ash seeds (PASs), which are rich in bioactive components such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds, and which may have an important influence on meat quality and muscle metabolites. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of dietary PAS supplementation on the meat quality, antioxidant activity, and metabolite characteristics of lambs. Eighteen 3-month-old Hu lambs (25.66 ± 3.03 kg body weight) were randomly allotted to three different dietary treatment groups. In the three dietary treatments, 0% (basal diet, CON), 3% (CON with 3% PAS, low-dose PAS, and LPS), and 6% (CON with 6% PAS, high-dose PAS, and HPS) PASs were used. Results indicated significant improvements in the HPS group, including reduced cooking loss and increased fat content. The L* and b* 45 min values were significantly lower in the PAS groups than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, dietary PAS supplementation increased in MUFA, PUFA, n-3 PUFA, PUFA/MUFA ratio, NEAA, and FFA compared to the CON group. Furthermore, PAS supplementation significantly improved serum and muscle antioxidant capacity. Metabolomic analyses revealed that increased metabolites, such as tryptophan, leucine, citric acid, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, creatine phosphate, inosine, and α-ketoglutaric acid, were primarily enriched in the biosynthesis of cofactors and nucleotide and purine metabolism pathways. Notably, supplementation with 6% of PASs exhibited the most prominent effect on lamb meat quality in this study. Therefore, the application of PASs as a feed component in lamb production can not only improve meat quality and muscle antioxidant capacity but also save feed costs.

Effects of Krill Oil and Coconut Oil on Behavioral Changes and Inflammatory Markers in Rats with Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Induced Depression Model.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of two different types of fat (krill oil [KO] and coconut oil [CO]) on obesity, behavioral tests, and some inflammatory markers when consumed with a high-fat or control diet in rats with depression. The study was conducted mainly in two phases: the induction of depression (37 days) and the dietary intervention (60 days). After the induction of depression by chronic unpredictable mild stress, dietary intervention started. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups with 10 rats in each group: (1) standard diet (SD), (2) SD + 5% KO, (3) SD + 5% medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)* (*CO to contain 5% MCT), (4) high-fat diet (HFD), (5) HFD + 5% KO, and (6) HFD + 5% MCT*. The open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test were performed at baseline, end of the depression induction, and dietary intervention to observe behavioral changes in rats. After the final behavioral test, animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses C-reactive protein (milligram per liter), cortisol (microgram per deciliter), and insulin (micro-international units per milliliter) to assess inflammatory changes in the blood. All data were analyzed under two headings: baseline, end of depression induction, end of dietary intervention, and dietary intervention groups. Body weight gain was highest in the SD+KO and lowest in the SD+MCT group (P < .05). When behavioral tests were evaluated according to dietary intervention, it was found that the SD+MCT group spent the most time in the center, the least time in the periphery, and the lowest immobilization time (P < .05). In FST, the SD+KO with the highest weight gain was the most immobile group (P < .05). The study indicates that the weight-reducing effects of MCTs resulted in positive behavioral responses, particularly in OFT and FST. Through these properties, MCTs can be used medicinally in the prevention and treatment of behavioral changes due to depression.

Effect of the Mediterranean diet on the faecal long-chain fatty acid composition and intestinal barrier integrity: an exploratory analysis of the randomised controlled LIBRE trial.

We recently showed that adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased the proportion of plasma n-3 PUFA, which was associated with an improved intestinal barrier integrity. In the present exploratory analysis, we assessed faecal fatty acids in the same cohort, aiming to investigate possible associations with intestinal barrier integrity. Women from the Lifestyle Intervention Study in Women with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (LIBRE) randomised controlled trial, characterised by an impaired intestinal barrier integrity, followed either a Mediterranean diet (intervention group, n 33) or a standard diet (control group, n 35). At baseline (BL), month 3 (V1) and month 12 (V2), plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, faecal zonulin and faecal fatty acids were measured. In the intervention group, faecal proportions of palmitoleic acid (16:1, n-7) and arachidonic acid (20:4, n-6) decreased, while the proportion of linoleic acid (18:2, n-6) and α linoleic acid (18:3, n-3) increased (BL-V1 and BL-V2, all P < 0·08). In the control group, faecal proportions of palmitic acid and arachidic acid increased, while the proportion of linoleic acid decreased (BL-V1, all P < 0·05). The decrease in the proportion of palmitoleic acid correlated with the decrease in plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (ΔV1-BL r = 0·72, P < 0·001; ΔV2-BL r = 0·39, P < 0·05) and correlated inversely with adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean diet score; ΔV1-BL r = -0·42, P = 0·03; ΔV2-BL r = -0·53, P = 0·005) in the intervention group. Our data show that adherence to the Mediterranean diet induces distinct changes in the faecal fatty acid composition. Furthermore, our data indicate that the faecal proportion of palmitoleic acid, but not faecal n-3 PUFA, is associated with intestinal barrier integrity in the intervention group.

Mediterranean Diet-Based Sustainable Healthy Diet and Multicomponent Training Combined Intervention Effect on Body Composition, Anthropometry, and Physical Fitness in Healthy Aging

Background: Diet and exercise interventions have been associated with improved body composition and physical fitness. However, evidence regarding their combined effects in older adults is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a combined 12-week Mediterranean diet-based sustainable healthy diet (SHD) and multicomponent training (MT) intervention on body composition, anthropometry, and physical fitness in older adults. Methods: Diet intervention groups received a weekly SHD food supply and four sessions, including a SHD culinary practical workshop. The exercise program included MT 50 min group session, three times a week, on non-consecutive days. Body composition and physical fitness variables were assessed through dual X-ray absorptiometry, anthropometric measurements, and senior fitness tests. Repeated measures ANOVA, with terms for group, time, and interaction, was performed. Results: Our results showed that a combined intervention significantly lowered BMI and total fat. Also, significant differences between assessments in all physical fitness tests, except for aerobic endurance, were observed. Adjusted models show significant differences in BMI (p = 0.049) and WHR (p = 0.037) between groups and in total fat (p = 0.030) for the interaction term. Body strength (p &lt; 0.001), balance tests (p &lt; 0.001), and aerobic endurance (p = 0.005) had significant differences amongst groups. Considering the interaction term, differences were observed for upper body strength (p = 0.046) and flexibility tests (p = 0.004 sit and reach, p = 0.048 back scratch). Conclusions: Our intervention study demonstrates the potential of implementing healthy lifestyle and sustainable models to promote healthy and active aging.

Effect of dietary supplementation of postbiotics derived from Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken

A study was conducted at Avian Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu to study the effects of dietary supplementation of postbiotics derived from probiotic culture of Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken from day-old to 42 days of age. A total number of 180, day-old chicks were randomly allotted into six dietary treatment groups, viz., T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 having three replicates of ten birds each, in a completely randomised design. The birds in control group (T1) were fed with a standard broiler ration (SBR) formulated as per BIS (2007).The treatment group T2 were fed with the SBR containing chlortetracycline. Diets for T3 to T6 were formulated by inclusion of 0.15 per cent postbiotic (T3), 0.3 per cent postbiotic (T4), 0.45 per cent postbiotic (T5) and 0.6 per cent postbiotic (T6), respectively.Supplementation of 0.45 per cent postbiotic exhibited significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher body weight, bodyweight gain and cumulative bodyweight gain than control group at six weeks of age. The feed intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass characteristics showed no significant change among the treatment groups. Keywords: Postbiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum, body weight, carcass

Effect of various levels of standardized ileal digestible branched-chain amino acids on lactating sow and litter performance.

Three hundred and sixty sows were used to investigate the effect of various dietary branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) levels on sow lactation and piglet growth performance. On day 112 ± 1.4 of gestation, sows were blocked by the parity group (P1, P2, P3+) and randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments containing various levels of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Leu, Ile, and Val. The experimental diets were formulated to the desired levels of BCAA by replacing cornstarch in a basal diet with l-leucine, l-isoleucine, and l-valine. Dietary BCAA levels relative to SID Lys were 114% or 180% for Leu, 56% or 64% for Ile, and 64% or 120% for Val. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric (3.23 Mcal ME/kg) and met or exceeded all other NRC (2012) essential amino acid and vitamin and mineral recommendations. Sow body weight (BW) and backfat thickness were measured at the time of entry into the farrowing room and at weaning. Piglet litter weights were recorded after cross-fostering and weaning to calculate the litter growth rate. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with fixed effects of dietary treatment and parity group and a random effect of lactation group. The models were fit using R (v4.4.1; R Core Team, 2024). The sow and her litter were the experimental unit, and results were considered significant if P < 0.05. On average, sows nursed their litters for 21.3 d (P = 0.998). The mean parity by treatment ranged from 3.8 to 3.9 (P = 0.999). After farrowing, the mean sow BW was 220kg with a range between treatments of 216 to 222kg (P = 0.523). On average, sows gained 2.3% of their BW (P = 0.740) with an average daily feed intake of 8.74kg/d (P = 0.903). As expected, sow Leu, Ile, and Val intakes were different across treatments (P ≤ 0.001) and corresponded to the varying dietary levels of BCAA. Sows entered farrowing with an average backfat thickness of 11.50mm (P = 0.919) and lost 6.5% backfat through lactation (P = 0.880). Sows started the trial with an average of 14.1 piglets/sow (P = 0.967) and weaned 12.7 piglets/sow (P = 0.995) with a piglet ADG of 0.22kg/d (P = 0.280) and a daily litter growth rate of 2.90kg/d (P = 0.547). In conclusion, there was no evidence of an effect of the various leucine, isoleucine, and valine levels evaluated in this study on lactating sow and piglet performance.

Effect of selenium-enriched yeast diet on performance, biochemistry, and selenium concentration in meat and egg contents of laying Japanese quails

Abstract. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a selenium (Se)-enriched yeast-based diet on the performance; blood biochemistry; and Se concentration in the eggs, breast muscle, and some internal organs of laying Japanese quails. A total of 320 healthy female quails were randomly selected and assigned to four dietary groups. The dietary treatment groups consisted of a standard basal diet (control) without supplementation of Se-enriched yeast (SY) and other groups in which Se was supplemented at 1.5 mg (SY-1.5), 2.5 mg (SY-2.5), and 3.5 kg−1 (SY-3.5). Results showed that quails in SY-3.5 had high (p&lt;0.05) body weight gain. Egg production was improved in SY-2.5 and SY-3.5 groups compared to in the control. Significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher contents of Se in yolk and albumen were observed in the SY-3.5 group. The Se concentration of the breast muscle was higher (p&lt;0.05) in quails of the SY-3.5 group, whereas the liver, kidney, and heart had a high Se content in the SY-2.5 and SY-3.5 groups. Intestinal histological features were improved (p&lt;0.05) in the SY-3.5 group. Overall, this study suggests that adding SY-3.5 to the diet of quails improved their growth and health, as well as the Se content in eggs and meat.

Effects of xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation on the production performance, intestinal morphology, cecal short-chain fatty acid levels, and gut microbiota of laying hens

This study investigated the effects of xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation on the production performance, intestinal morphology, cecal short-chain fatty acid levels, and gut microbiota of laying hens. A total of 800 Lohmann pink layers, each 48 wk old, were randomly divided into 5 dietary treatment groups, namely XOS at 0 (CON), 100 (XOS1), 200 (XOS2), 300 (XOS3) and 400 (X0S4) mg/kg. The experimental period was 24 wk. The results revealed that the egg production rate and the number of eggs laid by each layer between 1 to 12 wk increased as the XOS concentration increased (Plinear < 0.05). The sand-shell egg percentage decreased significantly from 1 to 12 wk in the XOS1, XOS2, and XOS3 groups (PANOVA < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the 4 XOS dosage groups presented significant increases in the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum (PANOVA < 0.05), whereas a linear decrease in jejunal crypt depth (Plinear < 0.05) was noted. In addition, XOS supplementation significantly increased the concentrations of butyric acid and isovaleric acid in the caeca (PANOVA < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA revealed that dietary XOS supplementation influenced the cecal microbiota. The alpha diversity analysis indicated that the richness of cecal bacteria was greater in the laying hens fed XOS. The modulation of the cecal microbiota composition upon the addition of XOS was characterized by an increased abundance of Firmicutes and Bifidobacteriaceae, and decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, dietary XOS supplementation resulted in decreases in the abundances of Bacteroides and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and an increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus. In conclusion, dietary XOS supplementation improved the production performance of laying hens by increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids and improving their intestinal morphology, which was achieved mainly through changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota. The recommended level of XOS in the diet of laying hens is 200 mg/kg.

Effects of purple sweet potato polysaccharide on performance, egg quality characteristics, jejunal morphology, and gut microbiota of Hy-Line Brown laying hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary purple sweet potato polysaccharide (PSPP) supplementation on production performance, egg quality characteristics, jejunal morphology, and gut microbiota modulation of Hy-line Brown laying hens. A total of 288 23-wk-old Hy-line Brown laying hens were randomly divided into 1 of the 4 dietary treatment groups, with 6 replicates and 12 laying hens per replicate. The 4 groups were fed basal diet supplemented with varying concentrations of PSPP (0, 1, 2, or 4 g/kg) for 6 wks. At the end of the feeding trials, eggs were collected for egg quality analysis, jejunal samples were collected for morphology assessment, and cecal content was analyzed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to determine intestinal microbiota. Experimental treatments did not differ regarding laying performance and egg quality. However, polynomial contrast analysis showed that there was a linear decrease (P = 0.042) in yolk color. The jejunal morphology did not differ among the treatment groups. The alpha and beta diversity were not different between the treatment groups. The cecal microbiota was dominated by Bacteroidota and Firmicutes at the phylum level and Bacteroides at the genus level. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was increased (P = 0.012) and Bacteroidota was decreased (P = 0.009) in the cecal content of PSPP2. Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio increased (P = 0.005) in the PSPP2 group. Polynomial contrast analysis showed that PSPP had a quadratic effect on Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio (P = 0.004) and on the relative abundance of Firmicutes (P = 0.006) and Bacteroidota (P = 0.006). At the genus level, increasing PSPP level showed a pattern of linear increase (P = 0.046) in [Ruminococcus]_torques_group and linear decrease (P = 0.015) in the Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group. It can be concluded that PSPP altered the gut microbiota, but did not influence jejunal morphology or laying performance and egg quality of laying hens. Further research is recommended to fully understand the potential and determine the optimal level of PSPP in laying hens.