Effects of Dietary Lycopene and Vitamin E on Egg Production, Antioxidant Status and Cholesterol Levels in Japanese Quail

Abstract

Japanese Quails were used to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E (dl-a-tocopheryl-acetate), lycopene, and their combination on egg production, egg quality, concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin E, A and cholesterol in serum and egg yolk. Quails (n = 120; 55 d old) were divided into four groups (n = 30/group) and fed a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with lycopene (100 mg/kg diet), vitamin E (250 mg dl-α-tocopheryl-acetate/kg diet) or a combination of lycopene and vitamin E (100 mg/kg lycopene plus 250 mg dl-α-tocopheryl-acetate/kg diet). Vitamin E and lycopene did not affect (p>0.05) body weight, feed intake or egg weight. Egg production and Haugh unit were greater (p<0.05) in each supplemental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). Serum and liver MDA levels were decreased in supplemented groups compared with the control group. Separately or as a combination, supplemental lycopene and vitamin E increased serum and egg yolk vitamin E and A but decreased cholesterol concentrations (p<0.05). In general, when a significant effect was found for a parameter, the magnitude of the responses to vitamin and lycopene supplements was greatest with the combination of the lycopene and vitamin E, rather than that observed with each supplement separately. Results of the present study indicate that supplementing with a combination of dietary lycopene and vitamin E reduced serum and yolk cholesterol concentrations and improved antioxidant status.

Effects of Dietary Lycopene or Tomato Paste on Laying Performance and Serum Lipids in Laying Hens and on Malondialdehyde Content in Egg Yolk upon Storage

“…However, Sahin et al (2008) and Akdemir et al (2012) noted that dietary LP or tomato-related products increased feed intake and egg production with the increasing LP supplementation in Japanese quails or laying hens. Sahin et al (2006b) observed that dietary LP at 100 ppm did not affect feed intake and egg weight, but increased egg production in Japanese quails. Egg qualities, i.e., eggshell strength, thickness, or Haugh unit were not affected by dietary treatments as reported previously (Kim et al, 2008;Rotolo et al, 2010;Akdemir et al, 2012).…”

“…In contrast to our finding, a lipid lowering effect by dietary LP was reported. For example, dietary LP at levels of 50 to 200 ppm decreased triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations in serum samples (Sahin et al, 2006a) and total cholesterol concentrations both in serum and egg yolk (Sahin et al, 2006b) in quails. Sun et al (2014b) reported that dietary LP in the range 20 to 80 mg/kg diet lowered serum total cholesterol, but not triglyceride, in breeding hens.…”

Selenium and α-tocopherol content in eggs produced by hens that were fed diets supplemented with selenomethionine, sodium selenite and vitamin E

“…Possible mechanisms that may explain the association of dietary Se and α-tocopherol with yolk cholesterol concentration is not clear and relevant information in the literature is limited. Sahin et al (2006) reported that in Japanese quails fed supplemental lycopene and vitamin E, separately or in combination, decreased yolk cholesterol concentration and increased serum and egg yolk vitamin E and A.…”

Effect of Vit E on Secretion of HSP-70 in Testes of Broilers Exposed to Heat Stress

“…E is not synthesized by poultry, and its availability is through exogenous administration only 10 . Vit E plays an important role in poultry industry because of its beneficial effect on the cell membrane integrity, immune system and reproduction performance 8,12,14,16 .…”

“…E) has been reported an excellent biological functions as a natural antioxidant prevent the oxidation of unsaturated lipid materials within cells, thus protecting the cell membrane oxidative damage [12][13][14][15] .…”