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Abstract

Flaxseed is being consumed as an ingredient in various food formulations as it plays a major role in the field of diet and disease research due to its potential health benefits associated with -linolenic acid (57%) and its rich phytoestrogens or lignans. Hence, presently, it is in great demand by food industries and in nutraceutical applications. The present study was carried out using 80, 32-weeks old, Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) laying hens which were subjected to 4 dietary treatments, namely Control, 5% flaxseed endosperm-rich fraction (ERF), 10% ERF and 20% ERF. At the end of the 4th week, all groups were examined hematologically and histopathologically. There was a linear relationship between feed consumption and decrease in body weight. The decrease in the weight of the birds was directly proportional to the concentration of ERF in the diet. Packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) counts had a negative significance (p<0.05) linear relationship with the ERF level. There was a decrease in PCV and RBC counts as ERF increased in the diet. Broadly, the livers of birds fed with 20% ERF were enlarged, pale in color, soft in consistency and were haemorrhaged with fat and fibrin deposits. Histopathologically, livers of the fed with 20% ERF of flaxseed showed fatty infiltration, haemorrhages and masses of eosinophilic materials. The vacuoles coalesced to create a clear space that displaced the nucleus to the periphery of the cell. It was concluded that the addition of anti nutritional constituents from ERF of flaxseed in dose dependent manner resulted in marked macroscopic and microscopic changes in the liver. Additionally, it was also responsible for an increased level of MCH and PCV.