Protective effect of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q₉) on ascites in broiler chickens

Abstract

1. The effect of ubiquinone (CoQ(9)) on ascites in broiler chickens was investigated. 2. The commercial broilers were divided into 2 groups of 100 birds each; CoQ(9) treated group and non-treated group. 3. The chickens were grown in a positive-pressured house with double high efficiency particulate air filtered intakes and exhaust, and thus were strictly isolated from infectious agents. 4. The chickens (15 to 21 d old) were exposed to cold stress in order to induce ascites. 5. The number of birds with ascites in the CoQ(9)-treated group was significantly lower than in the non-treated group. 6. Survival and production rates were better in the CoQ(9)-treated group than in the non-treated group.

Cold-Induced Ascites in Broilers: Effects of Vitamin C and Coenzyme Q10

“…In addition, its reduced form -CoQH 2 (ubiquinol) -can act as an important antioxidant, lowering the accumulation of free radicals, particularly of ROS, thereby reducing peroxidative damage to the body (Forsmark-Andrée et al, 1997). Nakamura (1996) fed diets supplemented with coenzyme Q 9 , an analogue of CoQ 10 , at 40 mg/ kg to broiler chicks and showed that dietary coenzyme Q 9 supplementation reduced the incidence of ascites.…”

Dietary Essentiality I: Coenzyme Q10 Conditionally Essential-Review

“…But at 40 mg kgG 1 of diet supplementation the incidence of leg problem was high (Geng et al, 2004a). This reduction in ascites mortality (around 40%) was observed when broiler fed CoQ9 (Nakamura et al, 1996). These studies imply that CoQ either 9 or 10 isoprene units are able to reduce the broiler's mortality due to ascites.…”

“…The CoQ10 showed hematopoietic activity by prolonged hematopoietic response in the peripheral blood and bone marrow in children having marasmus or kwashiorkor (Majaj and Folkers, 1968). However, in healthy broiler CoQ10 supplementation did not affected the PCV percent (Geng et al, 2004a, b;Asadi et al, 2013;Gopi, 2013) and also with CoQ9 supplementation (Nakamura et al, 1996). The Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility (EOF %), reflects the degree of erythrocyte membrane extensibility and erythrocytes cell geometry (Gharaibeh et al, 1993).…”

“…The CoQ10 at 200, 400 and 800 mg kgG 1 had neither produced significant effect on the body weight nor feed efficiency on growing white leghorn chicken . Nakamura et al (1996) supplied CoQ9 (the predominant form in rodents) at 200 mg kgG 1 in broiler diet which resulted in increased survival rate due to low ascites mortality but the body weight and feed efficiency at 56 days were not affected.…”

“…Few researchers are suggesting that ascites might be due to bird's inability to endogenously synthesize the CoQ10 demand. To counter act this, CoQ10 was used, in fact the importance of CoQ10 was felt when Nakamura et al (1996) observed a reduction in ascites mortality in broilers when fed with CoQ10. Then the term Ascites Heart Index (AHI) comes into prominence which gives more information about the susceptibility of the bird's to ascites.…”