Combined effects of dietary Laminaria digitata with alginate lyase on plasma metabolites and hepatic lipid, pigment and mineral composition of broilers

Abstract

Background The Laminaria digitata is an abundant macroalga and a sustainable feedstock for poultry nutrition. L. digitata is a good source of essential amino acids, carbohydrates and vitamins, including A, D, E, and K, as well as triacylglycerols and minerals, in particular iron and calcium. However, the few studies available in the literature with broilers document the application of this macroalga as a dietary supplement rather than a feed ingredient. No study has addressed up until now the effects of a high-level incorporation (> 2% in the diet) of L. digitata on plasma biochemical markers and hepatic lipid composition, as well as minerals and pigments profile in the liver of broilers. Our experimental design included one hundred and twenty Ross 308 male birds contained in 40 wired-floor cages and distributed to the following diets at 22 days of age (n = 10) for 15 days: 1) a corn-soybean basal diet (Control); 2) the basal diet plus 15% of L. digitata (LA); 3) the basal diet plus 15% of L. digitata with 0.005% of Rovabio® Excel AP (LAR); and 4) the basal diet plus 15% of L. digitata with 0.01% of the recombinant CAZyme, alginate lyase (LAE). Results L. digitata compromised birds’ growth performance by causing a reduction in final body weight. It was found an increase in hepatic n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, in particular C18:2n-6, C18:3n-6, C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 with the addition of the macroalga, with or without feed enzymes, to the broiler diets. Also, the beneficial C18:3n-3 fatty acid was increased by combining L. digitata and commercial Rovabio® Excel AP compared to the control diet. The sum of SFA, MUFA and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio were decreased by L. digitata, regardless the addition of exogenous enzymes. β-carotene was enhanced by L. digitata, individually or combined with CAZymes, being also responsible for a positive increase in total pigments. Macrominerals, in particular phosphorous and sulphur, were increased in the liver of broilers fed L. digitata individually relative to the control. For microminerals, copper, iron and the correspondent sum were consistently elevated in the liver of broilers fed L. digitata, individually or combined with exogenous CAZymes. The powerful discriminant analysis tool based on the hepatic characterization revealed a good separation between the control group and L. digitata diets but failed to discriminate the addition of feed enzymes. Conclusions Overall, this study highlights the value of L. digitata as a feed ingredient for the poultry industry. Moreover, we can conclude that the effect of L. digitata overpowers the effect of feed enzymes, both the Rovabio® Excel AP and the alginate lyase. Having in mind the negative effects observed on birds’ performance, our main recommendation at this stage is to restraint L. digitata incorporation level in forthcoming nutritional studies.

Plasma Metabolites and Liver Composition of Broilers in Response to Dietary Ulva lactuca with Ulvan Lyase or a Commercial Enzyme Mixture

“…Therefore, the increase of the sum n -3 PUFA, and particularly of n -3 long-chain PUFA, in the liver of broilers fed U. lactuca , alone or supplemented with exogenous CAZymes, could be explained by de novo lipogenesis through the intake of the precursor 18:3 n -3 in the biosynthetic pathway of n -3 long-chain PUFA [ 41 ]. These findings corroborate those of Costa et al [ 17 ], who also documented an increase in hepatic n -3 fatty acids, as well as a decrease of n -6/ n -3 ratio, with the incorporation of 15% L. digitata , with or without feed enzymes, to broiler diets. Similarly, Costa et al [ 18 ] reported an increase in meat n -3 PUFA, including EPA, DPA and DHA, with the addition of U. lactuca combined with ulvan lyase.…”

“…AST, ALT and ALP were reduced by U. lactuca , regardless of the CAZyme supplementation. These changes on aminotransferases activity are within the reference values reported for birds using both micro- and macroalga species, Arthrospira platensis [ 14 ] and L. digitata [ 17 ], respectively. GGT levels were higher in broilers fed U. lactuca alone and supplemented with the recombinant ulvan lyase than the control diet, in resemblance to the variations observed previously by some authors [ 14 , 17 ], yet not implying any kind of liver injury or dysfunction.…”

“…Hepatic total lipids did not change by dietary incorporation of 15% U. lactuca , supplemented or not with exogenous feed enzymes, conversely to the plasma lipid profile. However, the addition of macroalga at this level in broilers’ diet promoted an increase of total cholesterol concentration in the liver, contrasting with our own results obtained with the dietary incorporation of 15% L. digitata [ 17 ]. Also, the dietary inclusion of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris at 10% level, alone or supplemented with CAZymes, had no effect on total cholesterol content in the liver of finishing pigs [ 35 ].…”

“…The combination of U. lactuca and ulvan lyase reduced both α- and γ-tocopherol contents compared to the control. Recently, a decrease of hepatic α-tocopherol was reported with 15% of dietary L. digitata and the commercial carbohydrase Rovabio ® [ 17 ]. Similarly, a reduction of α-tocopherol was observed in the meat of broilers fed 15% of U. lactuca [ 18 ].…”

“…Feed enzymes appear as a solution, since Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) were previously supplemented in broiler chicken diets for their ability to degrade intricate matrices of carbohydrates present in microalgae [ 14 , 15 ], macroalgae such as Laminaria digitata [ 16 , 17 ] and Ulva sp. [ 18 , 19 , 20 ] or grains [ 21 , 22 ].…”