Carnitine Supplementation Modulates High Dietary Copper-Induced Oxidative Toxicity and Reduced Performance in Laying Hens

• Published in: Biological trace element research Vol. 144; no. 1-3; pp. 725 - 735
• Main Authors: Güçlü, Berrin Kocaoğlu, Kara, Kanber, Çakır, Latife, Çetin, Ebru, Kanbur, Murat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Humana Press Inc 01.12.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Weight - drug effects; Carnitine - pharmacology; Chickens - physiology; Copper; Copper - antagonists & inhibitors; Copper - toxicity; Diet; Diet - adverse effects; Dietary supplements; Egg production; Egg Shell - chemistry; Egg Shell - drug effects; Eggs; Enzymes - metabolism; Feed conversion; Female; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - pathology; Life Sciences; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Malondialdehyde - blood; Minerals - metabolism; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - blood; Nutrition; Oncology; Organ Size - drug effects; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Peroxidation; Poultry; Proteins - metabolism; Toxicity; Copper toxicity; Biochemical parameter; Egg quality; Performance; Laying hen; Carnitine
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-011-9122-x

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of l -carnitine on performance, egg quality and certain biochemical parameters in laying hens fed a diet containing high levels of copper proteinate. Forty-eight 42-week-old laying hens were divided into four groups with four replicates. The laying hens were fed with a basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with either 400 mg carnitine (Car)/kg diet, 800 mg copper proteinate (CuP)/kg diet or 400 mg carnitine + 800 mg copper (Car+CuP)/kg diet, for 6 weeks. Supplemental CuP decreased feed consumption ( p  < 0.01), feed efficiency and egg production ( p  < 0.001), as compared to control. The combination of Car and CuP increased ( p  < 0.001) egg production and feed efficiency as compared to CuP. The activities of alanine aminotransferase ( p  < 0.05) and alkaline phosphatase ( p  < 0.01) were increased, while lactate dehydrogenase activity was decreased ( p  < 0.001) by supplemental CuP and Car+CuP. Supplemental CuP caused an increase in plasma malondialdehyde ( p  < 0.01) and nitric oxide levels ( p  < 0.05). In the Car+CuP group, this increase was observed to have been reduced significantly ( p  < 0.05). Furthermore, Car+CuP increased ( p  < 0.05) glucose level. These results indicate that the carnitine and copper combination may prevent the possible adverse effects of high dietary copper on performance and lipid peroxidation in hens.