Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Dietary supplementation with l-arginine and combinations of different oil sources beneficially regulates body fat deposition, lipogenic gene expression, growth performance and carcass yield in broiler chickens

J. Khatun A B , T. C. Loh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0752-2923 A C G , H. Akit A , H. L. Foo D E , R. Mohamad D and K. Y. Kareem F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

B Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

C Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

D Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

E Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

F Department of Animal Resource, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq.

G Corresponding author. Email: tcloh@upm.edu.my; lohteckchwen@gmail.com

Animal Production Science 60(11) 1409-1417 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN19205
Submitted: 19 April 2019  Accepted: 27 November 2019   Published: 5 March 2020

Abstract

Context: Broiler meat with excessive of fat and saturated fatty acids content has serious health implication for consumers. The accumulation of abdominal fats in broiler chickens constitutes a loss of dietary energy and also reduces carcass yield. Oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids and l-arginine are effective for reducing fat deposition and improve meat quality.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation of l-arginine (l-Arg) with four combinations of palm oil (PO) and sunflower oil (SO) on growth performance, carcass yield, fat deposition, lipogenic gene expression and blood lipid profile in broiler chickens.

Methods: A total of 180 1-day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments as: T1, 6% PO (control); T2, 6% PO + 0.25% l-Arg; T3, 4% PO + 2% SO + 0.25% l-Arg; T4, 2% PO + 4% SO + 0.25% l-Arg; and T5, 6% SO + 0.25% l-Arg.

Key results: Birds fed l-Arg and combinations of PO and SO had higher weight gain at starter and finisher period compared with the control. The carcass yield increased, and relative abdominal fat reduced in broiler fed with combinations of l-Arg and increased level of SO in the diet. The concentration of oleic, palmitoleic and total monounsaturated fatty acids in liver tissue decreased by addition of l-Arg in broiler diet. The palmitic and total saturated fatty acid decreased, and total unsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids increased in liver tissue when PO replaced progressively by SO supplemented with l-Arg in the diet. The acetyl-CoA carboxylase , stearoyl-CoA desaturase and fatty acid synthetase gene expression tended to decrease by supplementation of l-Arg with an increased level of SO compared with control.

Conclusion: Supplementation with l-Arg and combination of PO and SO at the ratio of 4 : 2 could inhibit lipogenesis and subsequent lower abdominal fat deposition and enhance growth performance and carcass yield in broiler chickens.

Implications: Ratio of PO and SO, 4 : 2 with l-Arg supplementation in the dietary of broiler chickens can contribute to a better growth performance, lesser fat deposition and greater carcass yield.

Additional keywords: acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthetase, l-Arg, palm oil, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, sunflower oil, unsaturated fatty acid.


References

Abdulla NR, Loh TC, Akit H, Sazili AQ, Foo HL, Kareem KY, Mohamad R, Rahim RA (2016) Effects of dietary oil sources, calcium and phosphorus levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics and bone quality of broiler chickens. Journal of Applied Animal Research 45, 423–429.
Effects of dietary oil sources, calcium and phosphorus levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics and bone quality of broiler chickens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Abdulla NR, Loh TC, Akit H, Sazili A, Foo HL, Mohamad R, Rahim RA, Ebrahimi M, Sabow AB (2015) Fatty acid profile, cholesterol and oxidative status in broiler chicken breast meat fed different dietary oil sources and calcium levels. South African Journal of Animal Science 45, 153–163.
Fatty acid profile, cholesterol and oxidative status in broiler chicken breast meat fed different dietary oil sources and calcium levels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

AOAC (2007) ‘Official methods of analysis.’ 18th edn. (Association of Official Analytical Chemists: Washington DC, USA)

Baião NC, Lara LJC (2005) Oil and fat in broiler nutrition. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola 7, 129–141.
Oil and fat in broiler nutrition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chen J, Li X, Balnave D, Brake J (2005) The influence of dietary sodium chloride, arginine : lysine ratio, and methionine source on apparent ileal digestibility of arginine and lysine in acutely heat stressed broilers. Poultry Science 84, 294–297.
The influence of dietary sodium chloride, arginine : lysine ratio, and methionine source on apparent ileal digestibility of arginine and lysine in acutely heat stressed broilers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15742966PubMed |

Chen JM, Wang M, Kong Y, Ma H, Zou S (2011) Comparison of the novel compounds creatine and pyruvate on lipid and protein metabolism in broiler chickens. Animals 5, 1082–1089.

Chwen LT, Foo HL, Thanh NT, Choe D (2013) Growth performance, plasma fatty acids, villous height and crypt depth of preweaning piglets fed with medium chain triacylglycerol. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 26, 700–704.
Growth performance, plasma fatty acids, villous height and crypt depth of preweaning piglets fed with medium chain triacylglycerol.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25049841PubMed |

Cui HX, Zheng MQ, Liu RR, Zhao GP, Chen JL, Wen J (2012) Liver dominant expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene in two chicken breeds during intramuscular-fat development. Molecular Biology Reports 39, 3479–3484.
Liver dominant expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene in two chicken breeds during intramuscular-fat development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21717057PubMed |

Corzo A, Kidd MT (2003) Arginine needs for chick and growing broiler. International Journal of Poultry Science 2, 379–382.
Arginine needs for chick and growing broiler.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ebrahimi M, Zare Shahneh A, Shivazad M, Ansari Pirsaraei Z, Tebianian M, Ruiz-Feria CA, Adibmoradi M, Nourijelyani K, Mohamadnejad V (2014) The effect of feeding excess arginine on lipogenic gene expression and growth performance in broilers. British Poultry Science 55, 81–88.
The effect of feeding excess arginine on lipogenic gene expression and growth performance in broilers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24256445PubMed |

Emadi M, Jahanshiri F, Kaveh K, Hair-Bejo M, Ideris A, Alimon AR (2011) Nutrition and immunity: the effects of the combination of arginine and tryptophan on growth performance, serum parameters and immune response in broiler chickens challenged with infectious bursal disease vaccine. Avian Pathology 40, 63–72.
Nutrition and immunity: the effects of the combination of arginine and tryptophan on growth performance, serum parameters and immune response in broiler chickens challenged with infectious bursal disease vaccine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21331949PubMed |

Folch J, Lees M, Sloane-Stanley G (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 226, 497–509.

Fouad AM, El-Senousey HK (2014) Nutritional factors affecting abdominal fat deposition in poultry: a review. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 27, 1057–1068.
Nutritional factors affecting abdominal fat deposition in poultry: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25050050PubMed |

Fouad AM, El-Senousey HK, Yang XJ, Yao JH (2013) Dietary L-arginine supplementation reduces abdominal fat content by modulating lipid metabolism in broiler chickens. Animal 7, 1239–1245.
Dietary L-arginine supplementation reduces abdominal fat content by modulating lipid metabolism in broiler chickens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23472611PubMed |

Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS (1972) Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clinical Chemistry 18, 499–502.

Go G, Wu G, Silvey DT, Choi S, Li X, Smith SB (2012) Lipid metabolism in pigs fed supplemental conjugated linoleic acid and/or dietary arginine. Amino Acids 43, 1713–1726.
Lipid metabolism in pigs fed supplemental conjugated linoleic acid and/or dietary arginine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22383090PubMed |

Havenstein GB, Ferket PR, Qureshi MA (2003) Carcass composition and yield of (1957) versus 2001 broilers when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets. Poultry Science 82, 1509–1518.
Carcass composition and yield of (1957) versus 2001 broilers when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14601726PubMed |

Jobgen WS, Fried SK, Fu WJ, Meininger CJ, Wu GY (2006) Regulatory role for the arginine-nitric oxide pathway in metabolism of energy substrates. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 17, 571–588.
Regulatory role for the arginine-nitric oxide pathway in metabolism of energy substrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16524713PubMed |

Jobgen W, Fu WJ, Gao H, Li P, Meininger CJ, Smith SB, Spencer TE, Wu G (2009) High fat feeding and dietary L-arginine supplementation differentially regulate gene expression in rat white adipose tissue. Amino Acids 37, 187–198.
High fat feeding and dietary L-arginine supplementation differentially regulate gene expression in rat white adipose tissue.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19212806PubMed |

Kareem KY, Loh TC, Foo HL, Asmara SA, Akit H (2016) Influence of postbiotic RG14 and inulin combination on caecal microbiota, organic acid concentration and cytokine expression in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 96, 966–975.
Influence of postbiotic RG14 and inulin combination on caecal microbiota, organic acid concentration and cytokine expression in broiler chickens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Khajali F, Wideman RF (2010) Dietary arginine: metabolic, environmental, immunological and physiological interrelationships. World’s Poultry Science Journal 66, 751–766.
Dietary arginine: metabolic, environmental, immunological and physiological interrelationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Khajali F, Tahmasebi M, Hassanpour H, Akbari MR, Qujeq D, Wideman RF (2011) Effects of supplementation of canola meal-based diets with arginine on performance, plasma nitric oxide, and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens grown at high altitude. Poultry Science 90, 2287–2294.
Effects of supplementation of canola meal-based diets with arginine on performance, plasma nitric oxide, and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens grown at high altitude.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21934012PubMed |

Khatun J, Loh TC, Akit H, Foo HL, Mohamad R (2017) Fatty acid composition, fat deposition, lipogenic gene expression and performance of broiler fed diet supplemented with different sources of oil. Animal Science Journal 88, 1406–1413.
Fatty acid composition, fat deposition, lipogenic gene expression and performance of broiler fed diet supplemented with different sources of oil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28220633PubMed |

Khatun J, Loh TC, Akit H, Foo HL, Mohamad R (2018) Influence of different sources of oil on performance, meat quality, gut morphology, ileal digestibility and serum lipid profile in broilers. Journal of Applied Animal Research 46, 479–485.
Influence of different sources of oil on performance, meat quality, gut morphology, ileal digestibility and serum lipid profile in broilers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Loh TC, Choe DW, Foo HL, Sazili AQ, Bejo MH (2014) Effects of feeding different postbiotic metabolite combinations produced by Lactobacillus plantarum strains on egg quality and production performance, faecal parameters and plasma cholesterol in laying hens. BMC Veterinary Research 10, 149
Effects of feeding different postbiotic metabolite combinations produced by Lactobacillus plantarum strains on egg quality and production performance, faecal parameters and plasma cholesterol in laying hens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24996258PubMed |

Ma X, Lin Y, Jiang Z, Zheng C, Zhou G, Yu D, Cao T, Wang J, Chen F (2010) Dietary arginine supplementation enhances antioxidative capacity and improves meat quality of finishing pigs. Amino Acids 38, 95–102.
Dietary arginine supplementation enhances antioxidative capacity and improves meat quality of finishing pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19057978PubMed |

Molette C, Theron L, Marty-Gasset N, Fernandez X, Remignon H (2012) Current advances in proteomic analysis of (fatty) liver. Journal of Proteomics 75, 4290–4295.
Current advances in proteomic analysis of (fatty) liver.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22575383PubMed |

Nguyen TV, Bunchasak C (2005) Effects of dietary protein and energy on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Betong chicken at early growth stage. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology 27, 1171–1178.

Ntambi JM, Miyazaki M (2004) Regulation of stearoyl CoA desaturases and role in metabolism. Progress in Lipid Research 43, 91–104.

Ruan D, Lin YC, Chen W, Wang S, Xia WG, Fouad AM, Zheng CT (2015) Effects of rice bran on performance, egg quality, oxidative status, yolk fatty acid composition, and fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression in laying ducks. Poultry Science 94, 2944–2951.
Effects of rice bran on performance, egg quality, oxidative status, yolk fatty acid composition, and fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression in laying ducks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26467013PubMed |

Sandeep JJ, Pratt SL, Pavan E, Rekaya R, Duckett SK (2010) Omega-6 fat supplementation alters lipogenic gene expression in bovine subcutaneous adipose tissue. Gene Regulation and Systems Biology 4, 91–101.

Sanz M, Lopez-Bote CJ, Menoyo D, Bautista JM (2000) Abdominal fat deposition and fatty acid synthesis are lower and β-oxidation is higher in broiler chickens fed diets containing unsaturated rather than saturated fat. The Journal of Nutrition 130, 3034–3037.
Abdominal fat deposition and fatty acid synthesis are lower and β-oxidation is higher in broiler chickens fed diets containing unsaturated rather than saturated fat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11110864PubMed |

SAS Institute Inc (2014) ‘SAS/STAT User’s guide. Ver. 9.4.’ (SAS Institute Inc.: Cary, NC, USA)

Starčević K, Mašek T, Brozić D, Filipović N, Stojević Z (2014) Growth performance, serum lipids and fatty acid profile of different tissues in chicken broilers fed a diet supplemented with linseed oil during a prolonged fattening period. Veterinarski Arhiv 8, 75–84.

Tan X, Sun WD, Li JC, Pan JQ, Wang XL (2006) Changes in pulmonary arteriole protein kinase c-alpha expression associated with supplemental L-arginine in broilers during cool temperature exposure. British Poultry Science 47, 230–236.
Changes in pulmonary arteriole protein kinase c-alpha expression associated with supplemental L-arginine in broilers during cool temperature exposure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16641035PubMed |

Velasco S, Ortiz LT, Alzueta C, Rebole A, Trevino J, Rodriguez ML (2010) Effect of inulin supplementation and dietary fat source on performance, blood serum metabolites, liver lipids, abdominal fat deposition, and tissue fatty acid composition in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 89, 1651–1662.
Effect of inulin supplementation and dietary fat source on performance, blood serum metabolites, liver lipids, abdominal fat deposition, and tissue fatty acid composition in broiler chickens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20634521PubMed |

Wu G, Morris JRSM (1998) Arginine metabolism: nitric oxide and beyond. The Biochemical Journal 336, 1–17.
Arginine metabolism: nitric oxide and beyond.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 9806879PubMed |