Dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickens

Oxidative stress during egg production disrupts hepatic lipid metabolism and impairs laying performance in hens. This study investigated the effects of dietary canthaxanthin (CX) supplementation (0, 4, 6, 8, 10 mg/kg) on hepatic histomorphology, lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and egg produc...

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Main Authors: Jie Chen, Sumeng Yu, Xiaofeng Zhang, Yiping Song, Xiaoyun Zhou, Mei Xiao, Wenchao Liu, Lilong An
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1607039/full
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author Jie Chen
Sumeng Yu
Xiaofeng Zhang
Yiping Song
Xiaoyun Zhou
Mei Xiao
Wenchao Liu
Lilong An
author_facet Jie Chen
Sumeng Yu
Xiaofeng Zhang
Yiping Song
Xiaoyun Zhou
Mei Xiao
Wenchao Liu
Lilong An
author_sort Jie Chen
collection DOAJ
description Oxidative stress during egg production disrupts hepatic lipid metabolism and impairs laying performance in hens. This study investigated the effects of dietary canthaxanthin (CX) supplementation (0, 4, 6, 8, 10 mg/kg) on hepatic histomorphology, lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and egg production in indigenous chickens reared under controlled conditions (25 ± 2°C, 65–75% humidity). A total of 180 one-day-old female chickens were randomly assigned to a control group (NC) and four treatment groups (NT1, NT2, NT3, NT4). The trial lasted 9 weeks, with sampling performed at weeks 3, 6, and 9. During the experimental period, compared with the control group, dietary CX supplementation improved the liver weight, egg production rate, serum HDL-C, TG, TC in liver and serum (p < 0.05). At week 6, dietary 6 mg/kg CX supplementation significantly reduced yolk TG and serum LDL-C levels (p < 0.05), while 10 mg/kg CX significantly increased serum T-AOC and SOD activities (p < 0.05). At week 3, 10 mg/kg CX significantly enhanced serum CAT and GSH-Px activities (p < 0.05). At week 9, 8 mg/kg CX significantly decreased serum MDA levels (p < 0.05). Histological analysis revealed that CX improved liver cell structure, reducing vacuolar degeneration and lipid droplet deposition. Additionally, CX significantly upregulated the expression of SREBP-1c, FASN, ACC, ME, and LXRα in the liver (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with CX demonstrates beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and egg production in laying hens, with an optimal recommended dosage of 8 mg/kg. This study provides theoretical evidence supporting CX as a functional feed additive to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders and enhance laying performance in poultry production.
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spelling doaj-art-d2bec1de8a3642f49f0ca3db7cc2ba7f2025-08-20T03:24:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-06-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16070391607039Dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickensJie ChenSumeng YuXiaofeng ZhangYiping SongXiaoyun ZhouMei XiaoWenchao LiuLilong AnOxidative stress during egg production disrupts hepatic lipid metabolism and impairs laying performance in hens. This study investigated the effects of dietary canthaxanthin (CX) supplementation (0, 4, 6, 8, 10 mg/kg) on hepatic histomorphology, lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and egg production in indigenous chickens reared under controlled conditions (25 ± 2°C, 65–75% humidity). A total of 180 one-day-old female chickens were randomly assigned to a control group (NC) and four treatment groups (NT1, NT2, NT3, NT4). The trial lasted 9 weeks, with sampling performed at weeks 3, 6, and 9. During the experimental period, compared with the control group, dietary CX supplementation improved the liver weight, egg production rate, serum HDL-C, TG, TC in liver and serum (p < 0.05). At week 6, dietary 6 mg/kg CX supplementation significantly reduced yolk TG and serum LDL-C levels (p < 0.05), while 10 mg/kg CX significantly increased serum T-AOC and SOD activities (p < 0.05). At week 3, 10 mg/kg CX significantly enhanced serum CAT and GSH-Px activities (p < 0.05). At week 9, 8 mg/kg CX significantly decreased serum MDA levels (p < 0.05). Histological analysis revealed that CX improved liver cell structure, reducing vacuolar degeneration and lipid droplet deposition. Additionally, CX significantly upregulated the expression of SREBP-1c, FASN, ACC, ME, and LXRα in the liver (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with CX demonstrates beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and egg production in laying hens, with an optimal recommended dosage of 8 mg/kg. This study provides theoretical evidence supporting CX as a functional feed additive to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders and enhance laying performance in poultry production.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1607039/fulloxidative stresschickenscanthaxanthinliverlipid metabolismegg production rate
spellingShingle Jie Chen
Sumeng Yu
Xiaofeng Zhang
Yiping Song
Xiaoyun Zhou
Mei Xiao
Wenchao Liu
Lilong An
Dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickens
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
oxidative stress
chickens
canthaxanthin
liver
lipid metabolism
egg production rate
title Dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickens
title_full Dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickens
title_fullStr Dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickens
title_full_unstemmed Dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickens
title_short Dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickens
title_sort dietary canthaxanthin improves egg production rate through regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and redox status in indigenous chickens
topic oxidative stress
chickens
canthaxanthin
liver
lipid metabolism
egg production rate
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1607039/full
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