Effects of dietary chicken grill oil and sunflower seed oil on blood and liver oxidant/antioxidant status and liver function tests in laying Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Objective: To investigate influence of dietary chicken grill oil (CGO) on blood and liver oxidant/antioxidant status and parameters of liver function in laying Japanese quails (n-192; 13-wk old) (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Methods: Four groups were fed with experimental diets contained, 5% sunflower seed oil (SO1), 5% chicken grill oil (CGO(1)), 7.5% sunflower seed oil (SO2) and 7.5% chicken grill oil (CGO(2)), respectively. Experimental diets and water were provided ad libitum throughout the nine weeks of experiment. Results: The added CGO supplementation lowered erythrocyte and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but increased erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. However, the supplemented CGO did not affect to serum and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. But liver MDA level of the group added 7.5% SO (SO2) significantly increased compared to other groups (p<0.01). Vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations in plasma of laying quails significantly decreased due to increased rates (from 5% to 7.5%) of both CGO and SO. However, plasma vitamin E concentrations in quails fed with diets supplemented with 7.5% SO and CGO were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in birds fed with the 5% SO and CGO diets. In the analysis of liver function, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activity in birds fed diets supplemented with CGO (CGO(1) and CGO(2)) increased. Also, serum aspartate transaminase (AST) activity showed a significant increase (p<0.01) in quails fed with 7.5% SO or CGO. Conclusion: The results suggest that the antioxidant effect of CGO is not less effective than that SO. Both SO and CGO added to quail diets in 7.5 % ratio are not the positive effect on the oxidant/antioxidant status and liver function tests. However, the oxidant effect of dietary 7.5% CGO is lower than that SO. Therefore CGO obtained as described in the Material-Methods section up to 5% may be added to quail diets.