Synergistic effects of quercetin and vitamin E on egg production, egg quality, and immunity in aging breeder hens

Abstract

Laying hens experience a rapid decline in egg production, egg quality, and immunity, usually at the end of the peak laying period. Quercetin, a known flavonoid, exerts biological activities, including phytoestrogenic, immunity, antibiotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E also shows egg production and immunoregulatory potential in animals. This study evaluated the capacity of dietary quercetin, vitamin E, and the combination of both, to promote egg production and egg quality, and to improve the immunity of aging breeder hens. We also elucidated how quercetin and vitamin E combination could synergistically affect egg production, egg quality, and immunity in aging breeder hens. A total of 400 Tianfu broiler breeders at the age of 52 wk were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 4 replicates, 100 hens per treatment and 25 hens per replicate. They were fed diets containing quercetin at 0.4 g/kg, Vitamin E (200 mg/kg), quercetin and vitamin E (0.4 g/kg and 200 mg/kg), and a basal diet (control) for a period 10 wk. Daily feed intake and egg production rate were recorded, and weekly records were recorded on egg quality tests. At the end of the 10-wk experimental period, blood samples and immune organ (spleen) were collected from 2 birds per replicate, totaling 32 birds. Feed intake, immune organ index, serum cytokines, and immunoglobulins were evaluated, and the mRNA expression of genes related to immunity was determined from the spleen tissue. Generally, the results showed that separately or as a combination, supplemental quercetin and vitamin E significantly improved performance and egg quality ( P < 0.05), and significantly increased serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG) and cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) concentrations, as well as promoted immune organ development and index, and promoted the expression of splenic immune-related genes (IL-2 and INF-γ) ( P < 0.05), compared with the control. It was confirmed in this study that the combination of quercetin and vitamin E exert synergistic effects on egg production, egg quality, and immune function in aging hens.

Supplementation of Dietary Quercetin and Vitamin E Promotes the Intestinal Structure and Immune Barrier Integrity in Aged Breeder Hens

“…Total RNA was extracted from the intestinal (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) mucosal scrapings following previously described procedures ( 27 , 28 , 60 ), using TRIzol reagent (Takara, Dalian, China), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, the concentration and purity of the extracted RNA were determined using Nanodrop 2000C (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) with an absorbance ratio of A260/280.…”

“…Therefore, a rapid development of dietary supplements to improve gut function and homeostasis in aged animals is imminent ( 25 , 26 ). Vitamin E (VE) is a powerful dietary supplement characterized with a strong antioxidant property that attenuates the production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to prevent tissue damage caused by oxidative stress in chickens ( 27 , 28 ). It is involved in muscular activity, tissue integrity and immune response by hindering the production of reactive oxygen species ( 29 – 33 ).…”

“…Studies have shown that VE supplementation improves intestinal structure and mitigates intestinal inflammation in chickens ( 26 ). Moreover, VE has a synergistic effect with other dietary supplements such as flavonoids ( 27 , 28 , 34 ), selenium ( 35 ), and alpha lipoic acid ( 26 , 36 ) to enhance antioxidant activity in animals. Vitamin E (alpha- and gamma-tocopherol) supplementation was reported to mitigate colitis, as well as protect the intestinal barrier function in mice by inhibiting colitis-induced loss of the tight junction protein occludin, and mitigates TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced impairment of trans-epithelial electrical resistance in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell monolayer ( 37 ).…”

Potential Implications of Citrulline and Quercetin on Gut Functioning of Monogastric Animals and Humans: A Comprehensive Review

“…Quercetin and catechin combination was reported as a potential therapy for alleviating excessive adipose tissue inflammation, improving metabolic parameters related to insulin sensitivity, and regulating cell redox status to exert anti-inflammatory actions [196]. In addition, quercetin elicited synergistic roles together with vitamin E to promote anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and immunity in aged hens [197,198].…”

Synergy Between Dietary Quercetin and Vitamin E Supplementation in Aged Hen’s Diet Improves Hatching Traits, Embryo Quality, and Antioxidant Capacity of Chicks Hatched From Eggs Subjected to Prolonged Storage

“…In chicken production, nutrients are more effectively transferred from the mother to the embryo and offspring, which indicates efficient maternal nutrition ( Wang et al, 2021 ). However, in breeder hens, age negatively affects feed conversion ratio (feed-egg ratio), due to excessive oxidative stress, which obviously affects reproductive organ function and quality egg production ( Amevor et al, 2021a , b ). Moreover, in aged animals, the physiological functions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are reduced and prone to invasion by pathogens and inflammation, hence, cause a reduction in nutrient utilization.…”