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Abstract Background The aim of the study was to verify that the concomitant presence of grapefruit flavonoid extract with inulin in a Western-type diet may provide synergistic effects to the hindgut metabolism, as well as blood lipid and mineral profiles. Methods Forty male Wistar rats were distributed into 4 groups and fed for 28 days with diets rich in fat, cholesterol and protein. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied to assess the effects of inulin (v. sucrose, 5% of the diet), the addition of dietary grapefruit flavonoid extract (diets without or with 0.3% of an extract from hard parts of grapefruit) and the interaction between these two dietary factors. Results When compared to the control sucrose-containing diet, the diet enriched with inulin led to typical changes within the caecum, the main part of hindgut fermentation in rats, such as acidification of the digesta, support of bifidobacteria growth and increase of propionate and butyrate production. The dietary grapefruit flavonoid extract without inulin increased the bulk and pH value of caecal digesta, whereas short-chain fatty acid concentration and the bifidobacteria population were lowered compared to the extract-free diets. Simultaneous dietary addition of both tested components decreased slightly the pH value and increased somewhat the bifidobacteria number and the propionate concentration, however to the level observed with the control sucrose-containing diet. With regard to blood lipids, dietary grapefruit flavonoid extract decreased the triglyceride concentration regardless of the dietary carbohydrate type. Conclusion Inulin does not provide any additional benefit to the blood lipid profile caused by the dietary application of grapefruit flavonoid extract and it does not counteract clearly detrimental effects of the extract in the hindgut. Adding grapefruit extract to the diet must be performed with caution due to possible adverse hindgut responses with overdoses.

This study investigated the effects of dietary replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with graded levels of pea seeds (PS) on the gastrointestinal function of turkeys. Seeds of 2 pea varieties, a colored-flowered variety and a white-flowered variety (CFP and WFP, respectively) were fed to 56-d-old birds for 8 wk. A total of 539 female Hybrid turkeys were allocated to 7 groups, each group consisted of 7 pens with 11 birds per pen. The experiment had a 2-factorial design, with 3 dietary inclusion levels of PS (100, 200 and 300 g/kg) and 2 pea varieties (CFP and WFP). The control group (diets without PS) was compared with CFP and WFP treatments by simple contrast analysis. In comparison with CFP seeds, WFP seeds contained 7-fold less tannins (0.67 vs. 4.66 g/kg) and less non-starch polysaccharides (NSP, 117.8 vs. 132.7 g/kg), but more trypsin inhibitors (1.34 vs. 0.98 g/kg) and starch (489 vs. 455 g/kg). A rise in the PS content of diets from 100 to 200 and 300 g/kg increased the weight of the small intestine ( P  = 0.031) and the dry matter (DM) content of intestinal digesta ( P  = 0.001), but it had no effect on the pH of digesta. Only the highest PS content differentiated the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the small intestinal digesta (WFP > CFP, P  = 0.008), whereas PS did not cause any changes in the morphological parameters of the small intestinal mucosa. The dietary inclusion of PS had no influence on the levels of acetate, butyrate, putrefactive SCFAs or total SCFAs in the cecal contents. Apart from increasing the activities of β-glucosidase ( P  = 0.017) and β-galactosidase ( P  = 0.025), pea varieties did not affect the activities of the analyzed cecal microbial enzymes. However, CFP seeds decreased the DM content ( P  = 0.041) and increased the pH of cecal digesta, compared with WFP seeds ( P  = 0.013). The results of this study, pointing to a few differences in the functional parameters of the small intestine and cecum, indicate that tannins are not a factor differentiating the suitability of CFP and WFP seeds in the nutrition of finisher turkeys. The inclusion of PS at 200 and 300 g/kg of the diet reduces the content of SBM and wheat in turkey diets, which has a positive effect on gastrointestinal function., Competing Interests: We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that might inappropriately influence our work, and there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the content of this paper., (© 2022 Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.)

Arginine (Arg) and lysine (Lys) may be important for the overall health of turkeys. The aim of this study was to determine whether low (consistent with the guidelines) and high (10% higher than recommended) levels of dietary Arg and Lys can modulate performance and the functional status of the gut. Female turkeys were allocated to four dietary treatments (two levels of Lys (low or high) and two levels of Arg (low or high)) for a 16 wk feeding period. The treatments did not affect turkey performance determined separately for four feeding phases and for the entire 16 wk experiment ( p > 0.05). They had no significant influence on carcass yield, meat characteristics or the associated traits either ( p > 0.05). High-Lys diets contributed to a decrease in cecal pH, a significant increase in the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and a decrease in the concentrations of putrefactive SCFA and ammonia in the cecum. High dietary levels of both amino acids significantly enhanced the activity of cecal microbiota evaluated based on extracellular enzyme activity. These findings indicate that the higher dietary level of Lys was more effective in modulating the physiological status of the gut in turkeys than Arg.

We hypothesised that the dietary addition of the bioactive antimicrobial protein lactoferrin (LF) and peptides melittin (MT) or cecropin A (CR) at a dosage of 100 mg/kg to the diet of Wistar rats would result in strong modulatory effects on faecal microbial enzymatic activity, short-chain fatty acid and ammonia concentrations. To date, the changes in bacterial extracellular and intracellular enzymatic activities upon addition of dietary AMPs have not yet been studied. This experiment lasted 15 days; during the first 5 day period, the rats were fed the control diet (S) and diets supplemented with LF, MT or CR. On days 6-15, all rats were fed the control S diet. The faecal fermentation processes were substantially stopped after two days of treatment, on average, in all rats receiving LF and two AMPs. The deepest suppression effect was observed on the last day of treatment (day 5) and persisted through days 5-8. The highest decreases in faecal bacterial β-glucosidase and β-glucuronidase activities as well as in SCFA and ammonia concentrations were observed in the rats fed the CR diet. Only in the CR animals did the mechanism of suppressed microbial fermentation involve diminished enzyme release from bacterial cells to the digesta.

The present study investigated the effects of apple (A), blackcurrant (B) and strawberry (S) dried pomaces on meat quality, blood chemistry and redox status of broiler chickens. A total of 480 Ross-308 male broilers were divided into 8 dietary treatments containing 3% and 6% of cellulose preparation (C), A, B or S. Six birds/group were slaughtered at 35 days of age and blood samples were collected. Carcass traits and meat quality were determined on the Pectoralis major muscles, recording nonsignificant differences. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in serum, liver and breast muscle. In serum, fruit pomaces lowered triglycerides, creatinine and atherogenic index ( p < 0.05). Regarding redox status, in serum, ACW (antioxidant capacity of water-soluble substances) and ACL (antioxidant capacity of lipid-soluble substances) were greater in A ( p < 0.001). In breast, ACW and ACL were higher in B and S compared to C ( p < 0.05). In liver, ACL was greater in B and S compared to C ( p < 0.001) and in higher dosage compared to low ( p = 0.036). GSSG (oxidized glutathione) concentration was lower in A, whereas A, B and S presented a higher GSH (reduced glutathione)/GSSG ratio. The results showed that fruit pomaces could represent promising feed ingredients for broilers, improving serum, meat and tissue antioxidant parameters.

We hypothesized that full-fat insect meal from Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae can be an acceptable source of protein and energy in the diet of young turkeys, in an amount adapted to the nutritional needs of these birds, and at the same time can improve their antioxidant status and metabolism. The turkeys were fed a control diet (HI 0 ) without the insect meal, and three diets with increasing HI content of 5%, 10% and 15% (treatments HI 5 , HI 10 and HI 15 , respectively). The use of 10% or 15% HI in the diet of young turkeys, while beneficially raising levels of P, Fe and Hb, has a negative effect on lipid metabolism, increasing TC levels, lipid oxidation, and fat deposition in the liver. The inclusion of 5% HI in the diet of young turkeys has no adverse effect on the lipid status and histology of the liver, but it does not improve antioxidant status. To conclude, the level of HI meal in the diet of turkeys should not exceed 5%. However, as similar studies on turkeys have not yet been published, overly general conclusions should not be drawn from the results of the present study, and further research is necessary.

Background: Fruit pomaces are by-products rich in polyphenol compounds and dietary fiber. They seem to play an important role in regulating the gut microbiota, morphology and physiology. The aim of this study was to assess whether apple (A), blackurrant (B) or strawberry (S) pomaces could be suitable ingredients in broiler diets and their effect on gut health. A total of 480 male broilers were randomly allotted to 8 dietary treatments with lower (3%-L) or higher (6%-H) dietary fiber content: two control groups (CL/CH), two A diets (AL/AH), two B diets (BL/BH), two S diets (SL/SH). Diet and fruit pomaces were chemically analyzed to assess polyphenol concentration and fibre fraction content. After the evaluation of growth performance, 6 birds/group were slaughtered at 35 days of age. Morphometric and histopathological investigations were performed on duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Excreta were collected to perform microbiota evaluation by 16S DNA sequencing. Weight, viscosity, enzymatic activity, short chain fatty acid (SCFAs) and ammonia concentration were determined in ileum and/or ceca content., Results: A pomace and A diets showed the lowest polyphenol content and the highest content of soluble fibre fraction. No significant differences were observed for growth performance, gut morphometry and histopathology ( P  > 0.05). Dietary fruit pomace inclusion increased the weight of ileum and ceca and the ileum digesta viscosity ( P  < 0.05). In the ileum, A and S groups showed lower bacterial α-glucosidase activity than C groups. Moreover, small intestine SCFAs concentration was higher in fruit pomaces diets ( P  < 0.05). In ceca, B and S groups showed lower ammonia concentration and higher SCFAs than C. Dietary treatments also influenced the activity of α-glucosidase, α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase β-glucuronidase and xylase. Regarding microbiota, at phylum level, Firmicutes were differentially abundant across treatment (maximum for C and minimum in S, FDR > 0.05). At genus level, an increase of Weissella in AH and Erwinia in S/B diets, as well as a decrease of Lactobacillus in all fruit pomace groups were recorded ( P  < 0.05)., Conclusions: Fruit pomaces could be suitable ingredients in poultry nutrition even if further studies are needed to better understand which doses is more recommended to avoid negative effects on gut microbiota., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of diet containing the polyphenol-rich material on intestinal enzyme activity, oxidative stress markers, lipid metabolism and antioxidant status of laboratory rats. The animals were fed high-fat diet supplemented with freeze-dried water extracts of raw and roasted cocoa beans of Forastero variety. The observed changes indicated the biological activity of polyphenols and other components of the prepared cocoa beans extracts (CBEs). The presence of raw and roasted CBEs in the diets diversified the activity of the enzymes of the cecal microflora of rats. Both CBEs beneficially affect the antioxidant status of the serum, even in relation to the control standard group. The experimental cocoa bean preparations showed no significant effect on the mass of rats' liver, heart, and kidneys, but varied some parameters of the antioxidant status of their organisms. The raw CBE in rats fed with the high-fat diet shows a high ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation in heart and more effectively increases hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations compared to the roasted CBE, which did not show any significant effect. Moreover, supplementation with both CBEs significantly affects the volatile fatty acids concentration in the rats' cecum. Results of this study contribute to the evidence that dietary supplementation with raw and roasted CBEs can exert health-promoting effects, however further studies are necessary., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The research hypothesis postulated that the optimal dietary inclusion levels and ratios of lysine (Lys), arginine (Arg), and methionine (Met) can increase the growth potential of hybrid turkeys and limit metabolic disorders that weaken immune function. The experiment was carried out in a full rearing cycle, from 1 to 16 wk of age, in a two-factorial randomized design with 3 levels of Arg and 2 levels of Met (90, 100 and 110% of Arg, and 30 or 45% of Met, relative to the content of dietary Lys), with 6 groups of 8 replicates per group and 18 turkeys per replicate. In the first and second month of rearing, a significant dietary Arg-by-Met interaction was noted for daily feed intake and body weight gain, and a more beneficial effect was exerted by higher Met content and medium Arg content. Throughout the experiment, the higher dietary Met level increased the final body weight (BW) of turkeys (P = 0.001). Different dietary Arg levels had no influence on the growth performance of turkeys, but the lowest level decreased dressing yield (P = 0.001), and the highest level increased the percentage of breast muscles in the final BW of turkeys (P = 0.003). The lowest Arg level (90% of Lys content) undesirably increased the concentration of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 (P = 0.028) and decreased globulin concentration (P = 0.001) in the blood plasma of turkeys. The higher dietary Met level (45% of Lys content) increased plasma albumin concentration (P = 0.016). It can be concluded that higher dietary levels of Met (45 vs. 30% of Lys content) and Arg (100 and 110 vs. 90% of Lys content) have a more beneficial effect on the growth performance and immune status of turkeys., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Haemorrhagic enteritis (HE) of turkeys was first described in 1937 in the USA, while in Poland it was first diagnosed in 1987. Polish haemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV) isolates are usually low pathogenic and trigger a subclinical disease. Unfortunately, even the low- pathogenic HEV strains cause severe immunosuppression leading to secondary bacterial infections and huge economic losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate if the influence of Met on HEV infected turkeys immune response can be differentiated by both its level and source. Met is one of the amino acids that not only play a nutritional role but also participate in and regulate key metabolic pathways and immune response. In our study, the birds were assigned to 4 dietary treatments which differed in Met levels (0.55 and 0.78% in weeks 1-4 of age and 0.45 and 0.65% in weeks 5-8 of age, respectively) and sources (DL-methionine (DLM) or DL-methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA))., Results: The HEV added the percentage of CD4 + cells and decreased the percentage of IgM + cells in the blood, spleen and caecal tonsils (CTs) of turkeys. In addition, it increased the percentage of CD4 + CD25 + cells in blood, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in plasma. The higher dose of Met led to a significant decrease in the percentages of CD4 + , CD8 + and CD4 + IL-6 + cell subpopulations in the blood of HEV-infected and uninfected turkeys and to an increase in the percentage of IgM + B cells in CTs. Turkeys administered feeds with an increased Met content displayed a decrease in plasma IL-6 levels and an increase in plasma IgA levels., Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that HEV infection impairs the immune function in turkeys. Met content in the feed has a moderate effect on the immune response in HEV-infected turkeys. The source of this amino acid appears not be as important as its dose, because value of the analysed parameters did not differ significantly between turkeys receiving feeds with DLM or MHA. In the uninfected turkeys, the higher by 40% (than recommended by NRC) level of Met in the feeds had a positive effect on humoral immunity parameters.

The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the combined use of Cu, Zn, and Mn nanoparticles in the diet of turkeys with regard to potential reduction of the levels of these elements added to feed. The experiment was carried out on turkeys' hens assigned to four groups. Turkeys from the PC group received feed with the addition of inorganic forms of Cu, Zn, and Mn in the B.U.T. (British United Turkeys) recommended levels, from group IR received the addition in amounts reduced to 10% of the recommended levels, and from group NR received the addition of elements in the form of nanoparticles in the same amounts as in group IR. The turkeys from group NC received feed without the addition of these elements. The research showed that the addition of Cu, Zn, and Mn to turkey diets, in both inorganic forms and as nanoparticles, in quantities covering only 10% of B.U.T. recommendations had no adverse effect on growth performance or on the antioxidant and immune defense of turkeys. The changes in the redox status of the turkeys whose diet was not supplemented with Cu, Zn, and Mn indicate reduced oxidation processes in the tissues.

This study presents the effect of raspberry pomace and its grinding level on microbial activity in the gastrointestinal tract as well as on the parameters involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism in Wistar rats. The nutritional experiment was performed using 24 male Wistar rats, which were divided into 3 groups of 8 animals each. The animals were fed a standard diet (C) or a modified diet containing 7% raspberry pomace subjected to standard (SG) or fine (FG) grinding. Finer grinding increased the concentration of polyphenols and altered the composition of the dietary fibre, thereby affecting the intestinal microbial activity and related mechanisms that regulate systemic parameters. The FG diet considerably increased the level of total ellagitannin metabolites in the colon (23.56 μg/g for SG and 79.54 μg/g for FG) and plasma (0.029 μg/mL for SG and 0.041 μg/mL for FG) and reduced β-glucuronidase and α-glucosidase activity (19.2 and 19.7 for SG and 13.3 and 8.7 μmol/h/g for FG, respectively) and short-chain fatty acid production (55.84 μmol/g for SG and 48.60 μmol/g for FG) in the caecum. Compared to the SG, the FG diet improved the antioxidant capacity of water-soluble substances in plasma (4.34 μg/mL for SG and 4.92 μg/mL for FG). Both diets with raspberry pomaces increased the plasma HDL cholesterol (0.48 mmol/L for C, 0.56 mmol/L for SG, 0.57 mmol/L for FG) and decreased the atherogenic index (AI = (TC-HDL)/HDL: 2.57 for C, 1.98 for SG, 2.00 for FG). The FG diet resulted in the lowest plasma glucose level (10.8 mmol/L for C, 8.2 mmol/L for SG, 7.3 mmol/L for FG). In conclusion, both diets with raspberry pomaces modulated intestinal microbial activity and related systemic parameters; however, FG pomace exhibited greater inhibitory effects than SG pomace in the lower gut environment and glucose metabolism., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a diet containing different levels of Cu in two different chemical forms (carbonate and nanoparticles) on redox reactions and epigenetic changes in a rat model. For 4 weeks, five experimental groups (eight rats in each) were fed diets with two dosages of added Cu (standard-6.5 mg/kg or half of the standard dosage-3.25 mg/kg, and as a negative control no additional Cu in the mineral mixture) in two forms (standard-CuCO 3 and copper nanoparticles). Addition of Cu nanoparticles resulted in higher Cp (ceruloplasmin) activity and LOOH (lipid peroxides) and MDA (malondialdehyde) content, as well as decrease the CAT (catalase) activity and level of PC (protein carbonyl), 3-NT (3-nitrotyrosine), 8-OHdG (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine), GSH + GSSG (total glutathione) and DNA methylation. Reducing the dose of copper resulted in a decrease in the level of LOOH and GSH + GSSG as well as CAT activity, but increased the level of PC and methylated DNA. Based on these evidence, we concluded that addition of copper nanoparticles in the diet reduces protein oxidation and nitration as well as DNA oxidation and methylation. Lowering the level of Cu in the diet increases the oxidation of proteins and DNA methylation., (© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of various levels of manganese added to the diet of growing turkeys in the conventional form of MnO or in the form of NP-Mn2O3 nanoparticles on growth performance, absorption, and accumulation of Mn, Zn, and Cu, and antioxidant and immune status. The experiment was conducted on 1080 one-day-old Hybrid Converter turkeys randomly assigned to 6 groups with 10 replications, in a two-factor design with three dosages of manganese - 100, 50, and 10 mg/kg, and two sources-manganese oxide (MnO) and manganese nanoparticles (NP-Mn2O3). Neither reducing the addition of Mn from 100 to 50 or even 10 mg/kg of the diet nor replacing MnO with NP-Mn2O3 had a negative effect on the growth performance of the turkeys. Replacing MnO with NP-Mn2O3 in the turkey diet improved ileal digestibility of Mn and decreased accumulation of Cu in the liver and breast muscle. The study showed that irrespective of the form used, reducing the level of Mn supplementation of the diet from the 100 mg/kg recommended by British United Turkey to 50 or 10 mg/kg decreased its ileal digestibility and increased its accumulation in the liver, breast muscle, and skin. Reducing the addition of Mn to the turkey diet increased intestinal absorption of Zn and reduced accumulation of Zn and Cu in the liver, breast muscle, and skin. It did not increase oxidation processes in the liver or breast muscle of the turkeys. Reducing the addition of Mn to the turkey diet stimulated the immune system, which was manifested by stimulation of B cells to produce immunoglobulin M and by the release of the cytokine IL-6, but did not intensify apoptosis. The results of the study indicate that the recommended manganese supplement in turkey diets can be reduced. The use of manganese nanoparticles in turkey feeding requires further study., (© 2018 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Cocoa bean is a rich source of polyphenols, mainly flavonoids which have a wide range of biological properties. The aim of the study was to determine the physiological indices of laboratory rats as a response to diets containing water extracts of raw or roasted cocoa beans of Forastero variety, as well as purified monomeric flavan-3-ols fraction isolated from them. The influence of these extracts on selected parameters was studied during 4 weeks feeding. The samples of rats feces were collected throughout the experiment and after its completion, biological samples (intestines content, blood, and organs) were retrieved individually from each rat and subjected to analyses. The observed changes in the gastrointestinal tract functioning indices and metabolism indicators, determined throughout the study and after its completion, confirm to some extent the biological activity of polyphenol extracts of cocoa beans. The differences in the results obtained for the analyzed parameters of the gastrointestinal tract revealed that the cocoa bean extracts differently affected the physicochemical properties of rats' intestines. The results indicate the beneficial effects of the applied nutrition treatment on the activity of cecal enzymes and the content of volatile fatty acids in the gut.

Background: The results of experiments involving broiler chickens and turkeys indicate that increased dietary methionine (Met) levels may improve the antioxidant protection of tissues in fast-growing birds. This is an important consideration since viral infections induce oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to verify the hypothesis that turkey diets with increased Met content can suppress oxidation processes induced by infection caused by the haemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV), and that the noted effect is determined by the chemical form of this amino acid: DL-methionine (DLM) or DL-hydroxy analogue of Met (MHA)., Results: Dietary Met content above 40% higher than the level recommended by the NRC (1994) intensified lipid peroxidation in the small intestine, leading to an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid peroxide (LOOH) levels, but it also stimulated antioxidant mechanisms in the blood and liver of turkeys infected with HEV. In comparison with DLM, MHA contributed to more severe symptoms of oxidative stress, such as elevated MDA levels in the intestines, and a decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP)., Conclusions: In HEV-infected turkeys, diets with increased Met content did not exert a clear antioxidant effect, which was noted in uninfected birds. The prooxidant activity of Met observed in the small intestinal wall was suppressed in the blood and liver of turkeys, most likely due to intensified synthesis of uric acid and glutathione. In comparison with MHA, DLM had a more beneficial influence on the analysed parameters of the redox status in the small intestine, blood and liver of turkeys.

The aim of the study was to determine the physiological indices of laboratory rats as a response to a diet consisting of a bread supplemented with freeze-dried water extracts of raw and roasted cocoa beans of Forastero variety. The influence of different cocoa extracts on oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, and lipid metabolism was studied during long-term feeding of laboratory rats with bread supplemented with cocoa extracts. During the 4-week experimental feeding samples of rats feces were subjected to analysis and after its completion, biological samples were collected i.e. intestines content, blood, and organs retrieved individually from each rat. The observed changes indicate the biological activity of polyphenol extracts and other components of cocoa beans present in the prepared extracts. The differences in the results obtained for the analyzed parameters of the gastrointestinal tract revealed that the cocoa bean extracts being the subject of this investigation differently affected the physicochemical properties of rats' intestines, including intestinal microflora. The results show the influence of the diet on the activity of both fecal and cecal enzymes. Applied nutrition treatment varied the concentration and total production of volatile fatty acids in the cecum. Furthermore, the diverse composition of the applied diet affected the level of some biochemical indicators of blood serum of rats. Additionally, to a small extent influenced the analyzed indicators of the antioxidative status of rats as characterized by the concentration of substances reacting with thiobarbituric acid in internal organs., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to determine whether the use of Mn nanoparticles would make it possible to reduce the level of this micronutrient added to turkey diets without adversely affecting growth performance, antioxidant and immune status, or apoptosis. The experiment was conducted on 6 groups of turkeys with 10 replications in a two-factor design with 3 dosages of manganese, 100, 50 and 10 mg/kg, and 2 sources, manganese oxide (MnO) and manganese nanoparticles (NP-Mn2O3). The study showed that irrespective of the form of Mn used, reducing the Mn level recommended by British United Turkeys for supplementation of the diet of young turkeys from 100 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg increases the content of this element in the blood with no adverse effect on growth performance or the immune system. The reduction in Mn supplementation in the form of NP-Mn2O3 from 100 to 50 and even to 10 mg/kg of turkey diet has no negative effect on antioxidant defence in young turkeys. A 50% reduction of the recommended Mn level in the form of MnO enhances lipid oxidation processes. Replacing MnO with NP-Mn2O3 in the turkey diet probably can increase apoptosis in young turkeys. On the other hand, irrespective of the form of Mn used, reducing supplementation of the turkey diet with this element from 100 to 50 and even to 10 mg/kg probably can reduce apoptosis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of two forms (CuCO3 (CuS); and Cu nanoparticles (CuNP)) and dosages (standard 6.5 mg/kg (H), half of the standard (L)) of additional dietary Cu administered to growing rats on gastrointestinal and hepatic function and morphology. Copper in the form of CuNP vs CuS caused lower Cu faecal/urinal excretion and increased Cu accumulation in the brain tissue. Hepatic high-grade hydropic degeneration and necrotic lesions were observed only in the CuNP-H animals. In the lower gut, the dietary application of CuNP stifled bacterial enzymatic activity of caecal gut microbiota and resulted in lower SCFA production. That diminishing effect of CuNP on caecal microbiota activity was accompanied by a relative increase in the secretion of glycoside hydrolases by bacterial cells. The results showed that in comparison to Cu from CuCO3, Cu nanoparticles to a greater extent were absorbed from the intestine, accumulated in brain tissue, exerted antimicrobial effect in the caecum, and at higher dietary dose caused damages in the liver of rats.

The present study compares the effects of two dietary strawberry extracts rich in monomeric (ME) or dimeric (DE) ellagitannins (ETs) on gastrointestinal, blood and tissue biomarkers in Wistar rats fed high-fructose diets. Both strawberry extracts beneficially affect the antioxidant status and lipid profile of the liver and serum. The ME extract shows a greater ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation in kidneys, more effectively decreases serum and liver triglycerides, and exerts greater anti-inflammatory effects in blood serum than the DE extract. The DE extract significantly reduces the activity of microbial enzymes in the cecum. These effects might be associated with higher cecum and urine levels of ET metabolites in rats fed with ME than in rats fed with DE. In conclusion, the diet-induced fructose-related disturbances observed in biochemical parameters are regulated by both extracts; nevertheless, the beneficial effects of the ME extract are mostly associated with systemic parameters, while those of the DE extracts are associated with local microbial activity.

The aim of this experiment was to determine what dosage of copper (Cu) nanoparticles, added to a standard dietary supplementation with copper sulfate, would improve antioxidant and immune defense in chickens. The experiment was conducted with 126 broiler chickens assigned to seven treatments with three pens per treatment and six broiler chickens per pen. The basal-diet treatment did not receive Cu nanoparticles (nano-Cu) and as shown by analyses it was Cu-deficient (-29% vs. National Research Council (NRC) recommendations; 5.7 vs. 8 mg/kg). Broiler chickens received nano-Cu (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mg/kg body weight per day) via a tube into the crop over three 3-day periods (days 8-10, 22-24 and 36-38) or three 7-day periods (days 8-14, 22-28 and 36-42). As a result, in the nano-Cu-treated broilers the total experimental Cu intake was from -11% to +96% versus NRC recommendations. At the age of 42 days of broilers, their blood indices were determined. The obtained results showed that correction of the deficient basal diet of chickens with nano-Cu to a level of copper exceeding the NRC recommendation by 54% increased the antioxidant potential of the organism and inhibited lipid peroxidation. At the dosage of +96% versus NRC, some symptoms of a deterioration in antioxidant status appeared (a decrease in the level of glutathione plus glutathione disulfide and an increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase and ceruloplasmin activity and in lipid hydroperoxide content). Additionally, +7% versus the recommended Cu dietary level was followed by unfavorable results, indicating a deterioration in red blood cell parameters and stimulation of the immune system (an increase in interleukin-6, immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM and IgY). To conclude, it was shown that it is possible to simultaneously increase antioxidant and immune defense of chickens by supplementing their diets with nano-Cu - up to 12 mg per bird during 6 weeks of feeding, that is to a level no more than 7% over the NRC recommendation for growing broiler chickens., (© 2017 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

The present paper describes a comparative study of the metabolism of (1) ellagic acid, (2) monomeric ellagitannins (a mixture of α- and β-bis-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-d-glucose), and (3) dimeric ellagitannins (mainly agrimoniin with both glucose residues being esterified with hexahydroxydiphenoyl) in rats fed polyphenol-rich diets. Their metabolites were identified and quantified in selected parts of the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., the stomach, small intestine, and cecum, on the second, fourth, and seventh days of the experiment, as well as in the rats' feces, blood serum, and urine. Significant differences between the metabolites of strawberry ellagitannins and ellagic acid were observed in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Urolithin A was the predominant polyphenolic metabolite of rats fed a diet supplemented with ellagic acid. On the other hand, in rats fed low degree of polymerization (DP) ellagitannins, the main metabolite was nasutin followed by urolithin A, while ellagitannins with a higher DP led to nasutin only.

Apple pomace includes seeds that are rich in protein, fiber, and oil, which can be extracted from them. However, they can also contain a significant amount of toxigenic amygdalin. We hypothesized that amygdalin is a compound that significantly reduces the nutritional and health quality of defatted apple seeds. An experiment was conducted on rats that were distributed into three groups and fed with high-fructose diets. In the control (C) and amygdalin (AMG) groups, cellulose and casein were the source of dietary fiber and protein, respectively; in the apple seed meal (ASM) group, dietary fiber and protein originated from the endosperm of apple seeds, which were previously defatted and ground. A diet fed to the ASM group also contained 0.24% of amygdalin from the meal, whereas the AMG diet was supplemented with the same amount of synthetic amygdalin. After 14 days of experimental feeding, the body weight of rats was decreased in the ASM group. When compared to the C group, apparent protein digestibility and nitrogen retention were increased in the AMG group, while both were decreased in the ASM group. In the small intestine, mucosal maltase activity was decreased in the AMG and ASM groups, whereas lactase activity was only decreased by dietary amygdalin. The caecal SCFA pool and butyrate concentration were significantly increased in the ASM group compared to the other groups. Moreover, the ASM diet increased plasma concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and plasma antioxidant capacity of water-soluble substances (ACW). It also decreased the liver content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). In contrast, dietary amygdalin did not affect these indices. Dietary supplementation with apple seed meal can exert beneficial effects on the intestinal tract, blood lipid profile and antioxidant status of rats. In most cases, these effects are not limited by the presence of amygdalin. However, the nutritional value of protein from apple seed meal is relatively low., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The hypothesis postulating that the antioxidant and immunological effects of dietary methionine (Met) in young turkeys (1-8 weeks of age) can be differentiated by level and source of Met was investigated in this study. A total of 544 female Hybrid Converter turkeys were divided into four groups and fed diets in which Met content was tailored through supplementation with dl-methionine (dl-Met) or dl-methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) to levels recommended by NRC (1994) (Groups dl-Met L and MHA L ) and exceeding them by 50% (Groups dl-Met H and MHA H ). Regardless of its source, the increased dietary Met content led to significantly higher body weight gains but had no effect on feed conversion rates. Moreover, an increased Met content lowered lipid peroxide concentrations in breast meat and increased selected indicators of the plasma antioxidant status like uric acid levels, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) concentrations, the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), increased immunoglobulin A (IgA) plasma levels and decreased interleukin 6 levels. In comparison with dl-Met, MHA decreased the activities of SOD and catalase, and GSH concentrations in plasma. A dosage by source interaction revealed that the lower MHA content was associated with the lowest plasma GSH concentrations, FRAP values and activities of SOD and catalase. The higher dietary MHA level resulted for most parameters similar values, except for a decrease in lipid peroxide concentrations and an increase in plasma IgA levels. It can be concluded that an increased dietary dl-Met and MHA content (about 150% of the recommendations given by NRC 1994) not only increased the growth rate of young turkeys but also improved their antioxidant status. MHA appears to be a less desirable source of dietary Met for young turkeys when the inclusion level of Met matches the current recommendations. Therefore, a further debate is needed to establish the dietary requirements for Met in poultry.

The profile of bile acids (BA) largely depends on the enzymatic activity of the microbiota, but this can be modulated by the dietary addition of biologically active compounds, e.g., polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dietary raspberry pomace as a rich source of biologically active compounds on microbial activity and the BA profile in the caecum of rats fed a high-fat diet. Wistar rats were fed the standard diet AIN-93, a high-fat diet or a modified high-fat diet enriched with 7% different types of processed raspberry pomaces produced by standard grinding and fine grinding, with or without seeds. Rats fed the high-fat diet for 8 weeks showed some disorders in liver function and cecal BA, as manifested by an increased concentration of cholesterol, total BA in the liver and cholic, deoxycholic, and β-muricholic acids in the cecal digesta. In general, irrespective of the type of raspberry pomace, these dietary preparations decreased liver cholesterol, hepatic fibroblast growth factor receptor 4, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, cecal ammonia and favorable changed BA profile in the cecum. However, among all dietary pomaces, the finely ground preparation containing seeds had the greatest beneficial effect on the caecum by modulating bacterial activity and reducing the levels of secondary BA., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Two types of diet - standard and atherogenic - were used to study the effect of wheat or wheat-rye breads supplemented with 20 % acid whey concentrate after ultrafiltration on the physiological response of growing rats. The acid whey concentrate after ultrafiltration used in rat diets caused reduced weight gain (for atherogenic diet with wheat bread); growth of caecum tissue and digesta weight; a decrease in the pH of caecum digesta (for atherogenic diet); reduced activity of bacterial glycolytic enzymes; and a significant increase in total SCFA for both types of diet with wheat-rye breads containing acid whey concentrate. For wheat bread with acid whey, in standard diet, a statistically significant increase was found in the population of bifidobacteria. The results showed that the acid whey concentrates could be used as a valuable food ingredient.

Blackberry fiber (BF), extracted blackberry fiber (EBF), defatted blackberry seeds (DBS), and blackberry polyphenols (BP) were added to the diets of rats. A control diet, fiber diets (BF, EBF, DBS) with 6% addition instead of cellulose, and a polyphenol diet (BP) with 1% addition were administered for 4 weeks. BF and DBS contained polyphenols (3.6%); EBF did not. DBS was free of fat. Ellagitannins were the main phenolics, mostly dimers (sanguiin H-6 with isomers) and monomers (pedunculagin, casuarictin isomer, and sanguiin H-2 isomer). Trimers (lambertianin C with isomers) and tetramers (lambertianin D) were in the minority. EBF increased the production of propionate and butyrate in the cecum and improved the blood lipid profile. Polyphenols beneficially decreased the activity of cecal β-glucuronidase, but they may have also increased cholesterol levels in blood. Bacterial metabolism of ellagitannins in the colon gave rise to nasutin A and urolithin A.

The administration of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) beneficially modulates gastrointestinal functions and may enhance the metabolism of polyphenols. However, different polyphenolic components in the diet may have different influences on the activities of the digestive enzymes and microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, a 4-week study of forty-eight male Wistar rats was conducted to investigate the physiological response of the rat cecal environment to diets without and with FOS that contained two different strawberry polyphenolic extracts, specifically EP (polyphenolic profile 60, 35, 5, and 0% ellagitannins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, anthocyanins, respectively) and EPA (polyphenolic profile: 50, 35, 6, and 9%, respectively). When combined with FOS, both extracts beneficially enhanced the acidification of the cecal digesta (P≤0.05 vs the groups without extracts), but the dietary combination of EPA and FOS elicited the greatest reduction in putrefactive short-chain fatty acid production and the lowest fecal β-glucuronidase activity in the cecum (P≤0.05 vs group EP). Moreover, the addition of dietary FOS elevated the metabolism of the examined strawberry extracts in the cecum and thereby increased the concentrations of the metabolites in the cecal digesta and urine (P≤0.05 vs the group with cellulose). Overall, both strawberry extracts modulated the effects of FOS in the gastrointestinal tract; however, the combination with EPA extract that contained anthocyanins exhibited greater beneficial effects in the lower gut environment than the EP extract.

A total of 490 eight-week-old female Hybrid Converter turkeys (body weight 4.11 ± 0.03 kg) were divided into 5 groups with 7 replicates of 14 birds each. For 8 weeks, basal diets were supplemented with methionine (Met) at following levels (weeks 9-12/weeks 13-16 of age): Group 1 - 0.34/0.29%, Group 2 - 0.39/0.34%, Groups 3 and 4 - 0.45/0.38% and 0.51/0.41%, respectively, Group 5 - 0.58/0.47%. Only in the first feeding phase the body weight gain (BWG) was affected by Met levels with the significantly highest BWG in Group 3. No treatment effects were found for feed conversion ratio, carcass yield, carcass composition and meat colour. The blood superoxide dismutase activity was significantly highest in Groups 2 and 3. The concentrations of reduced glutathione in the liver were linearly increased (p = 0.018), whereas the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidised glutathione was highest in Group 3 (quadratic contrast, p = 0.004). It can be concluded that turkeys from Group 3 (Met levels age depending 15% and 10% above recommendations by NRC) were characterised by a well-balanced physiological response. Attention should be paid to the immune response of birds to higher dietary Met levels: plasma IgA concentrations decreased, whereas IL-6 and TNF-α levels increased in turkeys fed diets with the highest Met content.

Raspberry pomace is a source of polyphenols, which nutritional and health promoting properties are not sufficiently known. The aim of this 8-weeks study was to scrutinize if raspberry extracts (REs) with different ellagitannins to flavan-3-ols ratios might favorably affect the caecal fermentation processes and blood lipid profile in rats. Forty male Wistar rats were fed with a standard diet or its modification with two types of REs (E1 and E2) characterized by different ratios of ellagitannins to flavan-3-ols (7.7 and 3.1 for E1 and E2, respectively) and added to a diet at two dosages of polyphenolic compounds (0.15 and 0.30% of a diet; L and H treatments, respectively). Irrespective of polyphenols dietary level, both REs reduced the activity of bacterial β-glucuronidase, increased production of butyric acid in the caecum and reduced triacylglycerols in blood plasma. The E1 treatment at both dosages caused more effective reduction in the concentration of ammonia and elevated acetate level in the caecal digesta than E2. On the other hand, only the E2 treatment lowered value of the atherogenic index when compared with control group. When comparing dosages of REs, a higher one was more potent to reduce the activity of bacterial β-glucosidase, β-, α-galactosidase and lowered value of the HDL profile in plasma. To conclude, REs may favorably modulate the activity of the caecal microbiota and blood lipid profile in rats; however, the intensity of these effects may be related to the dosages of dietary polyphenols and to their profile, e.g., ellagitannins to flavan-3-ols ratio.

The growth and physiological responses of the rats to diet supplemented with raw and Candida utilis -fermented yellow and blue lupin seeds were determined. The diets containing soya bean meal, raw and fermented blue and yellow lupin were administered to eight rats in each diet group for four weeks. Yellow lupin seeds in the diets of rats improved significantly (p<0.05) feed intake, protein digestibility, body mass gain and protein efficiency ratio in comparison with blue lupin seeds. On the contrary, blue lupin seeds affected significantly (p<0.05) gastrointestinal fermentation processes in comparison with yellow lupin seeds. Fermentation of lupin seeds increased crude protein content and reduced phytate and oligosaccharide content. In the fermented products, a higher number of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts but reduced number of coliform bacteria was found. Fermentation by Candida utilis positively (p<0.05) affected protein digestibility of feed, body mass gain and protein efficiency ratio of rats, as well as the activity of some bacterial enzymes and cholesterol concentrations in the blood serum.

Background: Although raspberry seed oil (RO) is rich in essential fatty acids, there is a lack of experiments assessing benefits of its consumption., Objective: We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with RO on healthy rats and rats with low-grade systemic inflammation, liver disorders, and dyslipidemia induced by a high-fat/low-fiber (HF/LF) diet., Methods: Thirty-two rats were allocated into 4 groups of 8 rats each and fed for 8 wk a control (C; 7% lard and 5% cellulose) or HF/LF (21% lard and 2% cellulose) diet or modifications of these diets in which 7% RO replaced all (C+RO group) or a proportion of (HF/LF+RO group) the lard. Effects of diet and RO and their interaction on bacterial activity and metabolite formations in the distal intestine, liver fat and glutathione concentration, plasma lipid profile, transaminase activities, and plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were tested., Results: Dietary RO decreased plasma alanine and aspartate transaminase activities (43.4 and 157 vs. 25.6 and 115 U/L, respectively; P < 0.05 and P < 0.005) and plasma TNF-α and triglyceride concentrations (132 pg/mL and 2.07 mmol/L vs. 86.5 pg/mL and 0.99 mmol/L, respectively; P < 0.05). In livers of the C+RO group, the fat concentration was decreased, whereas the glutathione to glutathione disulfide ratio was increased compared with the C group (30.1% and 6.20 μmol/g vs. 23.3% and 7.25 μmol/g, respectively; P ≤ 0.05); however, those differences were not observed between the HF/LF groups (P-interaction < 0.05). In the HF/LF+RO group, the plasma CRP concentration was lower than in the HF/LF group (88.1 vs. 765 pg/mL; P ≤ 0.05) and similar to that in the C and C+RO groups (158 and 128 pg/mL, respectively)., Conclusion: Dietary RO improves plasma lipid profile and liver functions and reduces low-grade systemic inflammation in rats; however, the extent of these beneficial effects is partly dependent on the diet type., (© 2015 American Society for Nutrition.)

An objective of this work was to assess the biological activity of beetroot juice (Chrobry variety, Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris), which was lactofermented by probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus brevis 0944 and Lactobacillus paracasei 0920. The oxidative status of blood serum, kidneys, and liver of rats consuming the fermented beetroot juice were determined. The experimental rats were divided into four groups on diet type: Basal diet, basal diet supplemented with fermented beetroot juice, basal diet and N-nitroso-N-methylurea treatment, and basal diet supplemented with fermented beetroot juice and N-nitroso-N-methylurea treatment. Mutagen N-nitroso-N-methylurea, which was added to diet in order to induce aberrant oxidative and biochemical processes and disadvantageous changes in the count and metabolic activity of the gut epithelium microbiota. The nutritional in vivo study showed that supplementing the diet of the rats with the lactofermented beetroot juice reduced the level of ammonia by 17% in the group treated with N-nitroso-N-methylurea. Furthermore, the positive modulation of the gut microflora and its metabolic activity was observed in groups of rats fed with the diet supplemented with the fermented beetroot juice. A concomitant decrease in the b-glucuronidase activity was a consequence of the gut epithelium microbiota modulation. The antioxidant capacity of blood serum aqueous fraction was increased by about 69% in the group of rats treated N-nitroso-N-methylurea mixed with the fermented beetroot juice and N-nitroso-N-methylurea versus to the N-nitroso-N-methylurea treatment, whereas the antioxidant parameters of the blood serum lipid fraction, kidneys, and liver remained unchanged.

Strawberry and raspberry seeds were chemically analyzed and added as dietary ingredients to investigate the physiological response of rats. In both cases the main component was dietary fiber and the main polyphenols were ellagitannins (ET). The strawberry ET were mainly constituted by monomers and a dimer, agrimoniin, whereas raspberry ET were mainly constituted by a dimer, sanguiin-H-6, and a trimer, lambertianin-C. The lower content and the less polymerized structure of strawberry ET resulted in a higher cecal metabolites concentration (mainly nasutin and urolithin-A) in comparison to rats fed diet containing raspberry seeds. Dietary raspberry seeds, a source of dietary fiber, despite being richer in polyphenol compounds, were better utilized in fermentation processes, resulting in enhanced production of short-chain fatty acids. As opposed to strawberry seeds, the treatment with raspberry seeds beneficially improved the atherogenic index of a diet, mainly due to reduced triacylglycerol concentration in the serum.

The objective of the present study was to demonstrate the effect of dietary resistant dextrins, as potential prebiotics, on the intestinal microflora of young rats. Enzyme-resistant dextrin, prepared by heating of potato starch in the presence of hydrochloric (0.1% dsb) and tartaric (40% dsb) acid at 130ºC for 2 h (CA-dextrin). The experiment was performed on 24 Wistar male rats at 3-wk of age, divided by analogues in three experimental groups (control, starch and dextrin). Analyses determined the overall bacterial counts and the counts of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides and Clostridium strains within the feces and cecal contents of rats using fluorescence in situ hybridization method. CA-dextrin had no effect on primary growth indicators (body weight, body weight gain, dietary consumption) or the mass of the small intestine and the cecum, but dextrins caused a reduction in pH and the concentration of ammonia within the cecal contents. That supplementation of diet with resistant dextrins had a positive effect on composition of intestinal microflora in rats. It increased the counts of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains both in the feces and in the cecum. Moreover, it reduced the counts of Clostridium and Bacteroides strains. These results may suggest that resistant dextrins exerted a prebiotic-like effect in the large intestine.

Purpose: The consumption of a high level of dietary extract from blackcurrant pomace rich in polyphenols was hypothesised to exert beneficial effects on the serum lipid profile, the markers of insulin resistance and the antioxidant status of the host without negative changes in the intestinal tract., Methods: This hypothesis was tested on 20 male New Zealand white rabbits randomly assigned to four groups of five individuals each. For 4 weeks, the animals were subjected to the following dietary treatments: two control groups were fed a standard or a high-fat diet (7 and 32% energy from fat, respectively), and two experimental groups were fed a standard or a high-fat diet with the addition of 1.5% blackcurrant polyphenolic extract. The extract obtained from blackcurrant fruit pomaces was characterised by high concentrations of anthocyanins and flavonols (48.9 and 17.9%, respectively)., Results: The high-fat feeding regimen led to a series of unfavourable changes, such as increased body weight, disturbance of fermentative processes in the hindgut as well the induction of oxidative stress, hyperlipidaemia and insulin resistance. Dietary supplementation with blackcurrant extract decreased the concentration of putrefactive metabolites (ammonia and putrefactive SCFA) and β-glucuronidase activity in the hindgut digesta. Additionally, the extract ameliorated hyperlipidaemia by decreasing triglyceride, total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and free fatty acid concentrations in the serum and increased the antioxidant capacity of the serum., Conclusion: This study suggests that a polyphenol-rich extract from blackcurrant pomace ingested at relatively high amounts may be a useful therapeutic option in the reversal of dysfunctions related to obesity and its complications.

The objective of this work was to study the composition, hydration properties and oil holding capacity, antioxidant properties and the physiological effects on the digestive system of dietary preparations containing wheat or oat fiber enriched with polyphenol extracts from strawberry, chokeberry, and black currant pomace. By the addition of black currant, strawberry and chokeberry polyphenol extracts to grain fibers preparations with corresponding polyphenol content of 0.7%-0.8%, 1.1%-1.2%, and 2.5%-2.9% were obtained. The preparations were used as part (8%) of a modified AIN-93 diet given to growing Wistar rats (8 animals per group) over a period of 4weeks. The highest antioxidant potential had grain-chokeberry preparations with the greatest polyphenol content, while grain-black currant preparations exhibited the lowest antioxidant potential with the smallest polyphenol content. The addition of strawberry and chokeberry extracts caused a decrease in the activity of bacterial β-glucosidase and α-galactosidase, while black currant extract led to increased activity of β-galactosidase and β-glucuronidase. The production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the caecum of rats fed the grain-strawberry preparation, rich in ellagitannins, was considerably higher than the grain-black currant preparation, rich in proanthocyanidins and anthocyans, or the grain-chokeberry preparation with the highest polyphenol content (78.3 vs. 64.7 vs. 56.3μmol/100g body weight, p=0.012). In comparison to preparations without polyphenols only chokeberry extract significantly decreased SCFA concentration. The grain-strawberry preparations were characterized by a higher antioxidant potential per unit of polyphenol content and exhibited a more beneficial influence on the fermentation processes in the caecum of rats than the grain-black currant and grain-chokeberry preparations., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Forty-eight male Wistar rats were fed diets containing low (0.051% of diet) or high (0.153% of diet) levels of an ellagitannin-rich (ET) strawberry extract with dietary fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or cellulose (CEL) for 4 weeks. The in vivo study demonstrated that some positive changes in the cecal metabolism resulting from the ingestion of a diet enriched only with FOS were completely or slightly suppressed by the dietary ET. In particular, the pH value (7.21 vs 7.36), short-chain fatty acid production (41.2 vs 30.0 μmol/100g BW), and β-glucuronidase activity (20.2 vs 15.7 μmol/h/g) in the cecum of rats fed with FOS were affected upon the addition of the ET extract. Dietary FOS caused higher metabolism of the tested ET strawberry extract in the gastrointestinal tract of rats. Moreover, the systemic effect of the supplements when consumed together showed undesired serum HDL-cholesterol decrease (0.78 vs 1.02 mmol/L in the treatment with FOS only).

The aim of this model study was to investigate how selected gut functions and serum lipid profile in rats on high-fat diets differed according to the type of fat (saturated vs. unsaturated) and carbohydrate (simple vs. complex). The experiment was conducted using 32 male Wistar rats distributed into 4 groups of 8 animals each. For 4 weeks, the animals were fed group-specific diets that were either rich in lard or soybean oil (16% of the diet) as the source of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, respectively; further, each lard- and soybean oil-rich diet contained either fructose or corn starch (45.3% of the diet) as the source of simple or complex carbohydrates, respectively. Both dietary factors contributed to changes in the caecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, especially to the butyrate concentration, which was higher in rats fed lard- and corn starch-rich diets compared to soybean oil- and fructose-rich diets, respectively. The lowest butyrate concentration was observed in rats fed the soybean oil- and fructose-rich diet. On the other hand, the lard- and fructose-rich diet vs. the other dietary combinations significantly increased serum total cholesterol concentration, to more than two times serum triglyceride concentration and to more than five times the atherogenic index. In conclusion, a high-fat diet rich in fructose can unfavorably affect gut metabolism when unsaturated fats are predominant in the diet or the blood lipids when a diet is rich in saturated fats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a different dietary content of sweet yellow lupine seed meal (YLM) on gastrointestinal tract development and function, the growth performance (13-18 weeks of age) and meat quality of growing-finishing turkeys. Control grower and finisher diets contained soybean meal (SBM), and in experimental diets, SBM was replaced with YLM at 6%, 12% and 18% (Groups L6, L12 and L18, respectively). The diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic. In the first phase of feeding, YLM tended to decrease feed intake (p = 0.087) and body weight gain (BWG, p = 0.078) linearly due to significant deterioration in feed conversion ratio (FCR, p = 0.030). An opposite trend was noted in the second phase of feeding: BWG increased (p = 0.069) and FCR improved significantly (p = 0.004). Over the entire experiment, inclusion of YLM did not affect feed intake, BWG, FCR or excreta dry matter (DM) content. The highest YLM dietary level had no adverse effects on fermentation processes in the caeca. Positive changes, which were observed in turkeys fed YLM-supplemented diets, included an increased gizzard weight, a decreased pH of gizzard contents and a decreased viscosity of small intestinal digesta. The inclusion of YLM at 18% had no effect on carcass quality, the pH and colour intensity of breast meat. The highest inclusion rate of YLM (18%) in turkey diets significantly (p < 0.05) intensified the fatty flavour of meat and increased its hardness, springiness and chewiness, whereas it had no effect on the appearance, aroma and overall acceptability of breast meat. It can be concluded that YLM at the highest dietary rate used in the present experiment (18% of the diet) had no adverse effects on the growth performance or the analysed physiological parameters of turkeys.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to establish the composition of polyphenolic preparations obtained from industrial strawberry pomace with two methods of extraction: the water and the water-alcoholic one and then to analyse their effects in the gastrointestinal tract depending on the composition of dietary fibre-cellulose or fructooligosaccharides (FOS)., Methods: Freeze-dried water extract (PTW), containing 5.1% of ellagic acid, 0.2% of proanthocyanidins, and soluble carbohydrates as a major part, and water-alcohol extract (PTE), containing 17.1% of ellagic acid and 10.9% of proanthocyanidins, were administered, in the equivalent quantity of 0.06% of ellagic acid, to 4- to 8-week-old rats (8 animals per group), as a component of modified AIN-93 diets containing 5% of cellulose or FOS., Results: The addition of strawberry pomace extracts had no effect on either the diet intake or the body weight of experimental rats. Both extracts, similarly to FOS, beneficially reduced the activity of β-glucuronidase in caecal digesta, with the PTW effect being significantly higher than that of PTE (7.59 vs. 9.20 μmol/h/g, P = 0.001). In comparison with PTE, the PTW extract significantly increased the caecal digesta mass (1.45 vs. 1.27 k/kg BW) and the total production of SCFA (86.1 vs. 71.4 μmol/100 g BW). The extract enhanced the physiological effect of FOS by inhibiting the activity of β-glucuronidase, increasing the caecal digesta mass and SCFA production. Such an effect was not recorded in the case of the PTE preparation., Conclusions: The addition of strawberry pomace extracts affected the activity of certain enzymes of intestinal microflora and its most important products.

Due to antimicrobial properties, nisin is one of the most commonly used and investigated bacteriocins for food preservation. Surprisingly, nisin has had limited use in animal feed as well as there are only few reports on its influence on microbial ecology of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The present study therefore aimed at investigating effects of dietary nisin on broiler chicken GIT microbial ecology and performance in comparison to salinomycin, the widely used ionophore coccidiostat. In total, 720 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly distributed to six experimental groups. The positive control (PC) diet was supplemented with salinomycin (60 mg/kg). The nisin (NI) diets were supplemented with increasing levels (100, 300, 900 and 2700 IU nisin/g, respectively) of the bacteriocin. The negative control (NC) diet contained no additives. At slaughter (35 days of age), activity of specific bacterial enzymes (α- and β-glucosidases, α-galactosidases and β-glucuronidase) in crop, ileum and caeca were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the NC group, and nisin supplementation decreased the enzyme activities to levels observed for the PC group. A similar inhibitory influence on bacterial activity was reflected in the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and putrefactive SCFA (PSCFA) in digesta from crop and ileum; no effect was observed in caeca. Counts of Bacteroides and Enterobacteriacae in ileum digesta were significantly (P<0.001) decreased by nisin and salinomycin, but no effects were observed on the counts of Clostridium perfringens, Lactobacillus/Enterococcus and total bacteria. Like salinomycin, nisin supplementation improved broiler growth performance in a dose-dependent manner; compared to the NC group, the body weight gain of the NI₉₀₀ and NI₂₇₀₀ groups was improved by 4.7 and 8.7%, respectively. Our findings suggest that dietary nisin exerts a mode of action similar to salinomycin and could be considered as a dietary supplement for broiler chickens.

Objective: The berries of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.), including an edible Kamchatka variety (var. kamtschatica Sevast.), are a potential but relatively unknown source of anthocyanins, which are thought to have favorable effects on diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to examine whether the dietary addition of a Kamchatka honeysuckle berry extract (KHBE, 327 mg anthocyanins/g) is able to limit the disorders related to these diseases induced by a high-fructose diet in rats., Methods: The experiment was conducted using 24 adult male Wistar rats distributed into 3 groups of 8 animals each and fed semipurified casein diets differentiated by the carbohydrate source for 4 wk, as follows: a control cornstarch diet (681 g/kg) or a high-fructose diet (633 g/kg), with or without the addition of KHBE (2 g/kg)., Results: The mucosal lactase activity in the small intestine was increased in the rats fed the KHBE-containing diet compared with the rats fed the control diet. In the cecal digesta, the dietary KHBE considerably increased bacterial α- and β-glucosidase activity. Furthermore, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose tolerance were detected in the rats fed the high-fructose diet. The dietary KHBE normalized the plasma triglyceride concentration and atherogenicity, whereas plasma non-HDL cholesterol, insulin concentration, and insulin resistance were ameliorated to levels comparable with the rats fed the control diet., Conclusion: An anthocyanin-rich Kamchatka honeysuckle berry extract supplemented to an unbalanced diet is able to ameliorate the disturbances in lipid and glucose metabolism that are the fundamental risk factors for CVD and diabetes. Moreover, the extract stimulates enzymatic activity within the gut that seems to be related to the metabolism of polyphenols., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The nutritive value of meals derived from black- and yellow-seeded Brassica napus and canola-quality Brassica juncea was determined with broiler chickens and young turkeys. A higher apparent ileal digestibility of total amino acids was observed in chickens fed diet containing yellow-seeded B. napus than in those fed conventional black-seeded B. napus or canola-quality B. juncea (88.8 vs 83.4 and 84.2%, P < 0.05). Metabolizable energy (AME(n)) contents for yellow- and black-seeded B. napus and B. juncea as determined with broiler chickens were 2190, 1904, and 1736 kcal/kg DM, respectively. In the turkey assay, the AME(n) values for yellow- and black-seeded B. napus and B. juncea canola averaged 2166, 2007, and 1877 kcal/kg DM, respectively. Multicarbohydrase enzyme addition to broiler chicken diets increased energy utilization (from 1943 to 2249 kcal/kg DM, on average), with the most pronounced effect observed for B. juncea canola (from 1736 to 2356 kcal/kg DM).

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of beetroot juice fermented by Lactobacillus brevis 0944 and Lactobacillus paracasei 0920 (FBJ) on carcinogen induction of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat colon. 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP) was used as carcinogen, which was administrated intragastrically at a dose of 10 μg/day, every day of the experiment. Additionally, we investigated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of fecal water from experimental animals in the Caco-2 cell line, evaluated by MTT test and the comet assay, respectively, as well as by the count of bacteria adhered to colon epithelium assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Oxidative stress in rats was expressed by measuring serum antioxidant status and the level of malondialdehyde in the kidneys and liver. The experimental rats were divided into four groups based on diet type: basal diet, basal diet supplemented with FBJ, basal diet and PhIP treatment, and basal diet supplemented with FBJ and PhIP treatment. FBJ significantly reduced the number of ACF in PhIP-treated rats (from 59 ± 18 to 26 ± 4). Moreover, the number of extensive aberrations (more than 4 crypts in a focus) decreased from 52 ± 18 to 18 ± 4. Fecal water obtained from rats fed with a PhIP-containing diet induced pronounced cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in Caco-2 cells, but FBJ supplementation of the diet abolished these effects. In groups fed dietary PhP and FBJ the latter was found to increase the antioxidant status of serum from 40% to 66% depending on the fraction. Reduced concentration of malondialdehyde was found only in the kidneys of rats fed with PhIP and FBJ. FBJ present in the diet of rats causes a reduction of MDA in the kidneys from 118.7 nmol/g tissue to 100 nmol/g tissue. The presence of FBJ in the diet of rats significantly increased the count of bacteria, including Lactobacillus/Enterococcus and Bacteroides-Prevotella group adhered to colonic epithelium. In conclusion, supplementation of the diet with lactofermented beetroot juice may provide protection against precancerous aberrant crypt formation and reduce the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of fecal water and improve the oxidative status of the organism., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of beetroot juice fermented by Lactobacillus brevis 0944 and Lactobacillus paracasei 0920 (FBJ) on carcinogen induction of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat colon. N-Nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU) was used as carcinogen, which was administrated intragastrically at a dose of 50 mg/kg on the 23rd and 26th day of the experiment. Additionally, we investigated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of fecal water from experimental animals in the Caco 2 cell line, evaluated by MTT/NRU tests and the comet assay, respectively, as well as by the count of bacteria adhered to colon epithelium assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and DAPI staining. The experimental rats were divided into four groups based on diet type: basal diet, basal diet supplemented with FBJ, basal diet and MNU treatment, and basal diet supplemented with FBJ and MNU treatment. FBJ significantly reduced the number of ACF in MNU-treated rats (from 55±18 to 21±6). Moreover, the number of extensive aberrations (more than 4 crypts in a focus) decreased from 45±21 to 7±4. Fecal water obtained from rats fed with an MNU-containing diet induced pronounced cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in Caco 2 cells, but FBJ supplementation of the diet abolished these effects. The presence of FBJ in the diet significantly increased the count of bacteria, including Lactobacillus/Enterococcus, adhered to colonic epithelium. In conclusion, supplementation of the diet with lactofermented beetroot juice may provide protection against precancerous aberrant crypt formation and reduce the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of fecal water., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The present 4-week study on growing Wistar rats was aimed at assessing the potential advantages of dietary supplementation with apple pomace containing both fibre and polyphenols, which enables nutritional exploitation of the physiological traits of both compounds. A total of twenty-four rats, assigned to the control (C), group fed with a diet supplemented with 14% of processed apple pomace (A) and group fed with a diet supplemented with 15% unprocessed apple pomace (AP) groups, were fed the following iso-fibrous diets: control, ethanol-extracted and unprocessed apple pomaces (low and high level of dietary polyphenols, i.e. 0·002 and 0·018%, respectively). To measure the animal response, parameters describing the caecal fermentation, antioxidative status and lipoprotein profile of rats were assessed. Both dietary apple pomaces were found to significantly (P≤0·05) decrease caecal pH and ammonia concentration, microbial β-glucuronidase activity as well as to increase caecal SCFA concentration in comparison to the control diet. The unprocessed pomace did not suppress caecal fermentation. Unlike the extracted one, the dietary apple pomace rich in polyphenols significantly (P≤0·05 v. C group) increased erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity and serum antioxidant capacity of lipid-soluble substances and significantly (P≤0·05 v. C group) decreased amounts of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in liver tissue. Moreover, the 4-week administration of the AP diet to rats evoked a significant decrease in serum glucose concentration (P≤0·05 v. C and A groups). In conclusion, the results demonstrated that the polyphenol-rich fibre complexes from apple pomace exerted positive effects on gastrointestinal physiology and antioxidant status of rats.

Objective: Comparison of the effects of a high-fructose diet supplemented with rutin, a phenolic compound with well-recognized bioavailability and bioactivity, and a chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) seed extract rich in caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) on gut physiology and the development of disorders related to metabolic syndrome., Methods: A 28-d experiment was conducted on 32 young male Wistar rats. In comparison with control rats fed a standard corn starch diet (group C), the experimental group (group E) was fed a diet with an increased content of cholesterol and fructose (to 1% and 66% of the diet, respectively), as well as with oxidized soybean oil. Rats from the other two experimental groups were administered the same diet as group E during the first 2 wk of feeding, whereas at the beginning of the last 2 wk, the diet was enriched with rutin (group ER) or the CQA-rich ethanol extract from chicory seeds (9.6% of CQA, group EC), so the amount of added phenolics was equal in both dietary groups (0.15%)., Results: The diet administered in group E caused hyperglycemia and increased blood serum atherogenicity in rats, but did not induce other manifestations of the metabolic syndrome, i.e., dyslipidemia and oxidative stress. Additionally, it affected gut physiology through increasing mucosal sucrase activity and disturbing fermentative processes in the cecum, such as the production of short-chain fatty acids and the activity of microbial enzymes. Similarly to rutin, the dietary addition of the chicory seed extract improved glycemia, which was comparable to that determined in group C. In addition, the extract was found to decrease the atherogenic index to the level observed in group C and to increase blood antioxidant status. Both dietary supplements reduced the content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in kidney and heart tissue when compared with group E., Conclusion: The potential efficacy of the CQA-rich extract from chicory seeds in improving diet-induced metabolic disturbances proved to be better than that of rutin; thus, the extract might be considered as a dietary supplement for carrying out clinical trials., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the experiment was to compare the antioxidative potential of an oat by-product with the effect of vitamin E on the oxidative stability of pork from pigs fed a diet enriched with linseed oil. Thirty-four crossbreed barrows were fed individually from 39 to 109 kg body weight (BW) on one of four diets: a control diet based on barley-triticale-soybean (Diet C), a diet containing an oat byproduct (Diet O), and the same diets supplemented with vitamin E (100 mg/kg diet) (Diets CE and OE, respectively). The oat by-product, comprising oat hulls and bran, was included at 10 and 20% in the grower and finisher diets, respectively. To Diets O and OE, refined rapeseed oil was added to equalise their energy content to Diets C and CE. Compared to Diets C and CE, the inclusion of the oat by-product in Diets O and OE increased the antioxidative capacity of water-soluble and lipid soluble compounds in these diets. Dietary treatment did not influence growth performance, slaughter value, longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle quality measured by nutrient contents, pH, drip loss or colour. Vitamin E supplementation increased the alpha-tocopherol concentration in serum and meat (p < 0.01), and decreased the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the fresh and stored LD (p < 0.01). In addition, diets with the oat by-product increased serum alpha-tocopherol concentration (p < 0.01) and decreased the TBARS levels in the fresh and stored LD (p < 0.05), without increasing muscle alpha-tocopherol concentration. The obtained results indicate that the phenolic compounds present in oat by-products have a considerable antioxidant potential and a beneficial effect on the pig organism and oxidative stability of meat. However, dietary inclusion with the oat by-product was not as efficient as supplementation with vitamin E.