Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation on Deposition and Gene Expression Profiling of Abdominal Fat in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The aim of this study was to study the regulation of abdominal fat deposition by DL- α -tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) in broilers. Diets supplemented with 50 IU vitamin E significantly diminished abdominal fat deposition in broilers at day 35. Transcriptome sequencing results for abdominal fat tissues of the control (FC) and 50 IU vitamin E-supplemented (FT) groups identified 602 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were enriched in cellular process, cell and cell part, and binding Gene Ontology terms. Pathway functional analysis revealed that the DEGs were enriched in 42 metabolic pathways. Notably, the most enriched pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis, was found to play a key role in lipid metabolism. Further, the key regulators of lipid metabolism, including fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha, and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1, demonstrated decreased expression following vitamin E supplementation. Herein, we have identified pathways and genes regulated by vitamin E, thereby providing novel insights into the nutrients regulating abdominal fat deposition in broilers.

Effects of dietary vitamin E on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus

“…Previous studies have shown that VE can affect fat deposition (Gonzalez-Calvo et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2020). In this study, wholebody protein and muscle lipid contents of juvenile T. ovatus showed no significant differences among all the treatments.…”

“…In addition, the decrease in PUFA synthesis is also not surprising since optimal VE supplementation in diets has been demonstrated to inhibit liver fatty acid synthesis by down-regulating the expression of pparγ, which plays an important role in lipid accumulation (Stumvoll & Haring, 2002;Zhang et al, 2017). Zhang et al (2020) also reported that VE could restrain fatty acid synthesis by down-regulating the expression of fas and acc in broiler chickens. Then, hepatic mRNA levels of pparα, cpt1, l-fabp, fas, Δ6 fad, elovl4 and elovl5 were all significantly increased as VE levels increased from 91.06 to 144.88 mg/kg, suggesting an enhancement of PUFA β-oxidation and synthesis in the liver of T. ovatus.…”

“…However, similar effects of VE on the amount and type of fatty acid in the cooked flesh have not yet been reported in fish. In addition, several studies have shown that VE can affect fat deposition by regulating genes responsible for lipid metabolism, such as lipogenesis, lipolysis and transport in lambs and broiler chickens (Gonzalez-Calvo et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2020). Also, VE has been reported to influence hepatic PUFA desaturation and elongation in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) (Lebold et al, 2011).…”

Influence of dietary organic acid, probiotic and antioxidant on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing rabbit

“…Interestingly, abdominal fat % was decreased significantly in rabbit fed organic acid and antioxidant supplemented diets compared with control group. Although no such similar report was found on rabbit, according to the findings of some researchers both dietary citric acid and vitamin E inhibits abdominal fat deposition in broilers (Zhang et al, 2021;Haq et al, 2018). Besides, abdominal fat percent in rabbits fed probiotic added diet was numerically lower (P>0.05) than control group.…”

Effects of Dietary Vitamin E on Intramuscular Fat Deposition and Transcriptome Profile of the Pectoral Muscle of Broilers

“…Our previous transcriptome analyses showed that vitamin E influences the abdominal fat content of broilers ( Zhang et al. , 2020 ; Zhang et al. , 2021 ).…”