ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of selenium-enriched Candida utilis with high contents of organic selenium (Se) and glutathione (GSH) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune function of broiler chickens. A total of 100 healthy 7-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups, and fed diets supplemented with (a) Na2SeO3, (b) C. utilis, (c) Se-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae, (d) Se-enriched C. utilis, and (e) the control without any supplements. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks and parameters were recorded on day 42. No significant differences in average daily gain were found among the 5 groups. However, Se-enriched C. utilis supplemented in the diet increased activities of glutathione peroxidase in the whole blood (p<0.01), catalase in the serum (p<0.01) and breast meat (p<0.01), and superoxide dismutase in the breast meat (p<0.01), as well as decreased contents of malondialdehyde in the serum (p<0.01), liver (p<0.01) and breast meat (p<0.05). Also, Se-enriched C. utilis improved titers of IgG (p<0.01), IgM (p<0.01), and IgA (p<0.01) in the serum, as compared to the control. All these results indicated that Se-enriched C. utilis was a good candidate of dietary supplement to improve the antioxidant capacity and immune function of broiler chickens.
Keywords:
Antioxidant capacity; broiler chickens; glutathione; immune function; selenium-enriched Candida utilis
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