BLOOD SERUM OXIDATIVE STATUS OF LIKA PRAMENKA LAMBS FED WITH THE BUTTON MUSHROOM (AGARICUS BISPORUS) DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

Mushrooms contain a variety of active substances and, among others, could provide functional organic selenium (Se). Se is an incorporated element into selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), a significant factor in protecting cells from oxidative stress. GSH-Px measured in blood adequately reflect their level in other tissues and systemic oxidative status. The aim of this study was to determine whether intake of the dry and raw fruiting bodies of white button mushrooms influences blood serum oxidative status in Lika pramenka lambs. The study was conducted on 45 lambs of the Lika pramenka sheep breed at the age of three months in the Crkvina, Karlovac County, Croatia. The lambs were randomly divided into three groups, with 15 animals in each group (8 females and 7 males). Each group was fed for 6 weeks: control (basal diet), experimental I. (basal diet with 15 % of raw Agaricus bisporus) and experimental II. (basal diet with 1.5 % dried Agaricus bisporus). Blood was collected from the jugular vein using vacuum tubes without anticoagulants. The activities of GSH-Px, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in the obtained serum. The differences in oxidative status between groups were not statistically significant, although there were slightly higher serum GSH-Px and MDA values found in lambs fed with 15% of raw white button mushroom supplements. It can be concluded that white button mushroom supplementation does not affect the lamb’s serum oxidative status. Acknowledgement: This study has been fully supported by the Croatian Science Foundation under the project “Innovative functional lamb meat products (“Inojanjetina”)” (HRZZ‐IP‐06‐ 2016‐3685).