Carotenoids from in ovo or dietary sources blunt systemic indices of the inflammatory response in growing chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus)

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 136; no. 4; pp. 1027 - 1031
• Main Authors: KOUTSOS, Elizabeth A, GARCIA LOPEZ, Juan Carlos, KLASING, Kirk C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Nutritional Sciences 01.04.2006
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bursa of Fabricius - anatomy & histology; Carotenoids - administration & dosage; Chick Embryo; Chickens - growth & development; Copper - blood; Diet - veterinary; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Haptoglobins - analysis; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - prevention & control; Inflammation - veterinary; Iron - blood; Lipopolysaccharides - administration & dosage; Lutein - administration & dosage; Organ Size; Poultry Diseases - chemically induced; Poultry Diseases - prevention & control; Spleen - anatomy & histology; Sulfur - blood; Thymus Gland - anatomy & histology; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Weight Loss; Zinc - blood; Egg yolk; Vertebrata; Nutrition; Xanthophyll; Animal; Inflammation; Chicken; Aves; Carotenoid; lutein; Gallus gallus
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/136.4.1027

Lutein, a dihydroxycarotenoid, has antioxidant and immunomodulatory potential. Two 2 x 2 x 2 factorial designs examined effects of carotenoids during in ovo embryogenesis and, in the diet posthatch, on the systemic inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In both trials, breeder hens were fed a carotenoid-replete (40 mg lutein/kg) or a carotenoid-deplete diet, eggs were collected, and chicks were hatched from carotenoid-deplete or carotenoid-replete eggs. Meat-type chicks (n = 160 and n = 144, respectively) were then fed diets containing 0 or 40 mg lutein/kg diet and either injected or not injected with LPS. LPS injection increased plasma haptoglobin and Zn (P < 0.01) and reduced plasma Fe and Cu (P < 0.01). Chicks hatched from carotenoid-deplete eggs had greater changes in plasma Fe and S post-LPS than chicks hatched from carotenoid-replete eggs (P < 0.05 for each). Compared with chicks fed 40 mg lutein/kg diet, chicks fed 0 mg lutein had greater body weight losses and higher plasma haptoglobin and relative thymus, bursa, and spleen weights post-LPS (P < 0.05). Data suggest that a lack of carotenoid exposure, either in ovo or posthatch, increases parameters of systemic inflammation.