Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Supplemental Vitamin C and Chromium on Metabolic and Hormonal Responses, Antioxidant Status, and Tonic Immobility Reactions of Transported Broiler Chickens

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three hundred female broilers were assigned to five groups with six replicates and were fed with either a basal diet (two control groups) or the basal diet supplemented with 800-mg vitamin C/kg (Vit C group), 1,200-μg Cr+3 from chromium (Cr) chloride/kg (Cr group) or 800-mg Vit C and 1,200-μg Cr+3 from Cr chloride/kg (Vit C + Cr group) from 42 to 49 days of age. Treatments did not affect performance. Transport decreased insulin level in the control and Cr groups and increased glucose/insulin (G/I) ratio in the groups. The level of insulin was higher in the Vit C + Cr group than those in the control and Cr groups after the transport. The G/I ratio was lowest in the Vit C + Cr group after the transport. The transport significantly decreased triiodothyronine (T3) concentration in the groups except the Vit C + Cr group and only increased thyroxin (T4) concentration in the Vit C + Cr group. The T3/T4 ratio was significantly decreased in the groups except the Cr group by transport. The T3/T4 ratio was greatest in the Vit C + Cr group before the transport. Alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased in the Vit C + Cr group due to transport. Transport decreased triglyceride levels in the groups and also decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the Vit-C-supplemented groups. Transport increased malondialdehyde concentration in the control and Vit C groups and also increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the Cr-fed groups. The GPx activity was higher in the Vit C + Cr group than those in the control and Cr groups after the transport. Ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) value was decreased in the Vit C and Cr groups by transport. Either alone or in combination, Cr increased the FRAP value before the transport. Neither transport nor treatments had significant effects on the duration of tonic immobility (TI) and number of inductions to induce TI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Huff GR, Huff WE, Rath NC, Anthony NB, Nestor KE (2008) Effects of Escherichia coli challenge and transport stress on hematology and serum chemistry values of three genetic lines of turkeys. Poult Sci 87:2234–2241

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Vosmerova P, Chloupek J, Bedanova I, Chloupek P, Kruzikova K, Blahova J, Vecerek V (2010) Changes in selected biochemical indices related to transport of broilers to slaughterhouse under different ambient temperatures. Poult Sci 89:2719–2725

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Nijdam E, Arens P, Lambooij E, Decuypere E, Stegeman JA (2004) Factors influencing bruises and mortality of broilers during catching, transport, and lairage. Poult Sci 83:1610–1615

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Nijdam E, Lambooij E, Nabuurs MJA, Decuypere E, Stegeman JA (2006) Influences of feeding conventional and semisynthetic diets and transport of broilers on weight gain, digestive tract mass, and plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations. Poult Sci 85:1652–1659

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Whitehead CC, Keller T (2003) An update on ascorbic acid in poultry. Poult Sci 59:161–184

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lohakare JD, Kim JK, Ryu MH, Hahn TW, Chae BJ (2005) Effects of vitamin C and vitamin D interaction on the performance, immunity, and bone characteristics of commercial broilers. J Appl Poult Res 14:670–678

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Vincent JB (2000) The biochemistry of chromium. J Nutr 130:715–718

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Yari M, Nikkhah A, Alikhani M, Khorvash M, Rahmani H, Ghorbani GR (2010) Physiological calf responses to increased chromium supply in summer. J Dairy Sci 93:4111–4120

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Vincent JB (2007) The nutritional biochemistry of chromium (III). Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  10. Samanta S, Haldar S, Ghosh TK (2008) Production and carcase traits in broiler chickens given diets supplemented with inorganic trivalent chromium and an organic acid blend. Br Poult Sci 49:155–163

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hossain SM, Barreto SL, Silva CG (1998) Growth performance and carcass composition of broilers fed supplemental chromium from chromium yeast. Anim Feed Sci Tech 71:217–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Uyanik F, Eren M, Kocaoglu Guclu B, Sahin N (2005) Effects of dietary chromium supplementation on performance, carcass traits, serum metabolites, and tissue chromium levels of Japanese quails. Biol Trace Elem Res 103:187–197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lien TF, Horng YM, Yang KH (1999) Performance, serum characteristics, carcase traits and lipid metabolism of broilers as affected by supplement of chromium picolinate. Br Poult Sci 40:357–363

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Di Bona KR, Love S, Rhodes NR, McAdory D, Halder Sinha S, Naomi K, Kent J, Strickland J, Wilson A, Beaird J, Ramage J, Rasco JF, Vincent JB (2011) Chromium is not an essential trace element for mammals: effects of a “low-chromium” diet. J Biol Inorg Chem 16:381–390

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Jackson AR, Powell S, Johnston S, Shelton JL, Bidner TD, Valdez FR, Southern LL (2008) The effect of chromium propionate on growth performance and carcass traits in broilers. J Appl Poult Res 17:476–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Onderci M, Sahin K, Sahin N, Cikim G, Vijaya J, Kucuk O (2005) Effects of dietary combination of chromium and biotin on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and oxidative stress markers in heat-distressed Japanese quail. Biol Trace Elem Res 106:165–176

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ghanbari S, Ebrahimnazhad Y, Eshratkhah B, Nazeradl K (2012) Effect of dietary chromium supplementation on performance and carcass traits of broiler chicks. Paks J Nuts 11:467–472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee DN, Wu FY, Cheng YH, Lin RS, Wu PC (2003) Effects of dietary chromium picolinate supplementation on growth performance and immune responses of broilers. Asian Aust J Anim Sci 16:227–233

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sahin K, Sahin N, Kucuk O (2002) Effects of dietary chromium and ascorbic acid supplementation on digestion of nutrients, serum antioxidant status, and mineral concentrations in laying hens reared at a low ambient temperature. Biol Trace Elem Res 87:113–124

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mann GV, Newton P (1975) The membrane transport of ascorbic acid. Second Conference on Vitamin C, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, New York, pp. 243–252

  21. Kapeghian JC, Verlangieri AJ (1984) The effects of glucose on ascorbic acid uptake in heart endothelial cells: possible pathogenesis of diabetic angiopathies. Life Sci 34:577–584

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Seaborn CD, Cheng N, Adeleye B, Owens F, Stoecker BJ (1994) Chromium and chronic ascorbic acid depletion effects on tissue ascorbate, manganese, and 14C retention from 14C–ascorbate in guinea pigs. Biol Trace Elem Res 41:279–285

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Zulkifli I (2003) Effects of early age feed restriction and dietary ascorbic acid on heterophil/lymphocyte and tonic immobility reactions of transported broiler chickens. Asian Aust J Anim Sci 16:1545–1549

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zulkifli I, Che Norma MT, Chong CH, Loh TC (2000) Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and tonic immobility reactions to preslaughter handling in broiler chickens treated with ascorbic acid. Poult Sci 79:402–406

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Benzie IFF, Strain JJ (1999) Ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay: direct measure of total antioxidant activity of biological fluids and modified version for simultaneous measurement of total antioxidant power and ascorbic acid concentration. Methods Enzymol 299:15–27

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Yoshioka T, Kawada K, Shimada T, Mori M (1979) Lipid peroxidation in maternal and cord blood and protective mechanism against activated-oxygen toxicity in the blood. Am J Obstet Gynecol 135:372–376

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Paglia DE, Valentine WN (1967) Studies on the quantitative and qualitative characterization of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. J Lab Clin Med 70:158–169

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Base System SPSS (1993) Syntax reference guide, release 16. SPSS Inc, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  29. StatSoft (2009) Statistica Data Analysis Software System. Version7.1. StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK

  30. SAS Institute (2003) SAS Users’ Guide. Version 9.1. SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC

  31. Kutlu HR, Forbes JM (1993) Changes in growth and blood parameters in heat stressed broiler chicks in response to dietary ascorbic acid. Livestock Prod Sci 36:335–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Suksombat W, Kanchanatawee S (2005) Effects of various sources and levels of chromium on performance of broilers. Asian Aust J Anim Sci 11:1628–1633

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kim SW, Han IK, Shin IS, Chae BJ (1995) Effects of supplemental chromium picolinate on growth performance, carcass composition and serum traits of broilers fed diets varying in protein and lysine. Asian Aust J Anim Sci 8:455–462

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Ahmed N, Haldar S, Pakhira MC, Ghosh TK (2005) Growth performances, nutrient utilization and carcass traits in broiler chickens fed with a normal and a low energy diet supplemented with inorganic chromium (as chromium chloride hexahydrate) and a combination of inorganic chromium and ascorbic acid. J Agric Sci 143:427–439

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Yalçin S, Özkan S, Oktay G, Çabuk M, Erbayraktar Z, Bilgili SF (2004) Age-related effects of catching, crating, and transportation at different seasons on core body temperature and physiological blood parameters in broilers. J Appl Poult Res 13:549–560

    Google Scholar 

  36. Al-Aqil A, Zulkifli I (2009) Changes in heat shock protein 70 expression and blood characteristics in transported broiler chickens as affected by housing and early age feed restriction. Poult Sci 88:1358–1364

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Kegley EB, Spears JW, Brown TT (1997) Effect of shipping and chromium supplementation on performance, immune response and disease resistance of steers. J Anim Sci 75:1956–1964

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Zhang L, Yue HY, Zhang HJ, Xu L, Wu SG, Yan HJ, Gong YS, Qi GH (2009) Transport stress in broilers: 1. blood metabolism, glycolytic potential, and meat quality. Poult Sci 88:2033–2041

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Sahin K, Onderci M, Sahin N, Aydin S (2002) Effects of dietary chromium picolinate and ascorbic acid supplementation on egg production, egg quality and some serum metabolites of laying hens reared under a low ambient temperature (6 °C). Arch Anim Nutr 56:41–49

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Nijdam E, Delezie E, Lambooij E, Nabuurs MJA, Decuypere E, Stegeman JA (2005) Feed withdrawal of broilers before transport changes plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations. Poult Sci 84:1146–1152

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Ajakaiye JJ, Ayo JO, Musa D (2010) Effects of vitamins C and E on erythrocytes and blood chemistry profile of Shika brown layer hens transported by road. Acta Zool Mex 26:527–537

    Google Scholar 

  42. Chen KL, Lu JJ, Lien TF, Chiou PWS (2001) Effects of chromium nicotinate on performance, carcase characteristics and blood chemistry of growing turkeys. Br Poult Sci 42:399–404

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Samanta S, Haldar S, Bahadur V, Ghosh TK (2008) Chromium picolinate can ameliorate the negative effects of heat stress and enhance performance, carcass and meat traits in broiler chickens by reducing the circulatory cortisol level. J Sci Food Agr 88:787–796

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Zhong RZ, Liu HW, Zhou DW, Sun HX, Zhao CS (2011) The effects of road transportation on physiological responses and meat quality in sheep differing in age. J Anim Sci 89:3742–3751

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Akşit M, Yalcin S, Ozkan S, Metin K, Ozdemir D (2006) Effects of temperature during rearing and crating on stress parameters and meat quality of broilers. Poult Sci 85:1867–1874

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Prieto MT, Campo JL (2010) Effect of heat and several additives related to stress levels on fluctuating asymmetry, heterophil: lymphocyte ratio, and tonic immobility duration in white Leghorn chicks. Poult Sci 89:2071–2077

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Excellence Center for Animal Sciences and Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, 91775-1163, Iran

    A. H. Perai, H. Kermanshahi & H. Nassiri Moghaddam

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

    A. Zarban

Authors
  1. A. H. Perai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Kermanshahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Nassiri Moghaddam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Zarban
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. H. Perai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Perai, A.H., Kermanshahi, H., Nassiri Moghaddam, H. et al. Effects of Supplemental Vitamin C and Chromium on Metabolic and Hormonal Responses, Antioxidant Status, and Tonic Immobility Reactions of Transported Broiler Chickens. Biol Trace Elem Res 157, 224–233 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9879-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9879-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation