Effect of Soy Lecithin on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Hepatic Antioxidant Parameters of Broiler Chickens

Background and Objective: Lecithin is a feed supplement and dietary source of several active compounds;therefore, this study evaluated the Soybean Lecithin (SL) in broiler diets by measuring performance, nutrient utilization, serum parameters and hepatic antioxidant status. Methodology: About 216 days old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were allotted into three groups as follow: the first group was fed a Basal Diet (BD) without emulsifier; the second and third groups were fed basal diet supplemented with 0.05 (SL0.05) and 0.1% (SL0.10) of SL, respectively. Results: During starter, grower and overall period, chicken fed with SL has better daily gain and feed intake compared with control, while feed conversion was improved in SL0.10 throughout the experiment compared to SL0.05 and control. At 21 and 42 days old, SL0.10 showed highest relative liver weight compared to SL0.05 and control (p<0.05). On day 21, digestibility of dry matter, ether extract and protein in chickens fed diet with SL0.10 was significantly improved in comparison with those fed SL0.05 and control. Cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein concentrations were decreased in SL0.10 group in comparison with control. Serum glucose was higher in SL0.10 group compared to SL0.05 and control. Feeding SL0.10 resulted in the decreased hepatic malondialdehyde content and remarkably increased catalase, total superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity enzyme activities. Conclusion: Feeding soy lecithin at 0.10% improved performance, reduced cholesterol and triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol concentrations in serum broilers. In addition, soy lecithin is suitable for improving antioxidant status and has ability to protect against oxidative stress.