The effect of graded levels of Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal (VALM) on serum lipid profile of broiler finisher chickens was studied. A total of 144 Marshal brooded broilers weighing 500-610g were randomly distributed into 4 groups of 36 birds each and assigned to 0%, 5%,10% and 15% levels of VALM in a study that lasted for 28 days. The serum total cholesterol, triglycerol, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were determined from blood samples at the end of the study. The serum concentration of cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the control when compared to the treated groups. The treatment with V. amygdalina at 5%, 10% and 15% reduced the cholesterol concentration by 8.90, 13.33 and 26.67% respectively. Also there existed significant (p<0.05) higher concentrations of triglycerol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the control group. The percentage reduction in triglycerol levels is 20.00, 40.00 and 46.66% respectively for treatments B (5% VALM), C (10 VALM and D(15% VALM). However, there was no significant (p>0.05) in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in both the control and the treated groups. While the inclusion of V.amygdalina reduced the levels of cholesterol and triglycerol at all levels to some extent, it further increased the levels of the HDL-C numerically at all levels of inclusion. These findings may be of clinical importance to individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease.
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