Effects of beta-carotene and canthaxanthin on aflatoxicosis in broilers

Abstract

In 2 x 3 factorial experiments, 240 broiler chicks were fed diets containing 0, 0.01, and 0.02% beta-carotene or canthaxanthin with or without 5 ppm aflatoxin to determine the effects of these two carotenoids on the health and well-being of broilers subjected to aflatoxin poisoning. Neither beta-carotene nor canthaxanthin was effective at overcoming the growth-depressing effects of aflatoxin. Relative liver weights were significantly higher in broilers receiving dietary aflatoxin in the presence of beta-carotene but not canthaxanthin. beta-Carotene and canthaxanthin had no effect on antibody production against infectious bursal disease (IBD). Interestingly, secondary antibody production against IBD was enhanced by the presence of aflatoxin in the diet. Canthaxanthin significantly increased the concentrations of cholesterol, total protein, uric acid, and triglyceride, all of which were significantly depressed by aflatoxin. beta-Carotene did not effect any of the measured blood analytes. There was a significant interaction between canthaxanthin and aflatoxin with respect to creatine kinase activity. Creatine kinase activity decreased as dietary canthaxanthin increased in the presence of aflatoxin. The data suggest that beta-carotene is not effective at ameliorating aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens but that canthaxanthin may be somewhat effective with respect to certain clinical blood chemistry indicators.

Carotenoid and protein supplementation have differential effects on pheasant ornamentation and immunity

“…Several studies have demonstrated that canthaxanthin (the carotenoid used in the present experiment) is a potent antioxidant (Palozza & Krinsky, 1992;Surai et al, 2003) that may positively affect immune responses (Bendich & Shapiro, 1986;El-Hafeez et al, 2000;Chew & Park, 2004). But it has also been suggested that other carotenoids such as astaxanthin may exhibit stronger effects on oxidative stress (Miki, 1991;Woodall et al, 1996) and some studies have found weak or no effects of canthaxanthin on immunity (Sklan et al, 1989;Haq et al, 1996;OkotieEboh et al, 1997). However, in an earlier study (Ohlsson et al, 2003), we used food supplemented with carotenoids from Capsicum fruits containing an array of different carotenoids (Deli et al, 1996) and still found no effect on pheasant humoral immunity.…”

The Amelioration of Cyanide Induced Liver Toxicity with Bentonite Using Wistar Rat as Experimental Model

“…This means that bentonite had a clearly protective, antitoxic effect on the cyanide-fed rats, leading to lowered ALP levels. This was supported by Okotie -Eboh and Kubena [25] who reported that dietary addition of bentonite has been shown to reduce some toxic effects of some toxins and improve the performance of birds. Furthermore, some other studies showed also that bentonite has the ability to protect birds and other animals to some extent against the hepatoxicity of Aflatoxins [26,27,28,29].…”

Scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of canthaxanthin as a feed additive for poultry and for ornamental birds and ornamental fish

“…The Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) issued an opinion on canthaxanthin in 1983 (EC, 1984), 1987(EC, 1989) and 1997(EC, 2000. The Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition (SCAN) issued an opinion on the safety of canthaxanthin for salmon and trout, laying hens, and other poultry (EC, 2002).…”

“…The study published by Okotie-Eboh et al (1997) was considered instead. 32 The aim the study was to examine a potential beneficial effect of canthaxanthin on the toxicity symptoms caused by aflatoxin in chickens for fattening.…”

“…In the study of Okotie-Eboh et al (1997) on chickens for fattening (see section 3. 1.1.2), the highest canthaxanthin concentration tested was 200 mg/kg complete feed.…”