The effects of alpha lipoic acid and different sources of selenium on growth performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology and microbial population of broiler chickens

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Animal Science, QaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different selenium sources (inorganic, organic, and nano) and levels of alpha-lipoic acid on growth performance, carcass characteristics, jejunum morphology, and intestinal microbial population of broiler chickens. Four hundred and fifty Ross 308-male broiler chicks were used in 6 treatments with 5 replicates each. The experimental diets were arranged in a completely randomized design with a 2×3 factorial arrangement, including two levels of alpha-lipoic acid in the diet (0 and 300 mg/kg) and three selenium sources: inorganic (sodium selenite), organic (selenomethionine), and nano (nano-selenium). Results showed that chicks fed organic and nano selenium had better feed conversion ratios compared to those fed inorganic selenium (p<0.05). Additionally, supplementation with 300 mg/kg alpha-lipoic acid significantly increased body weight and improved feed conversion ratio in broilers (p<0.05). Addition of nano selenium increased the relative weights of carcass, thigh, bursa and spleen compared with inorganic selenium (P<0.05). Furthermore, the highest weight of spleen was observed in group with combination of nano selenium and alpha-lipoic acid (p<0.05). Morphology of jejunum, consumption of alpha-lipoic acid and nano selenium significantly increased the length and surface area of jejunal villi (p<0.05). The results of microbial population indicated that adding alpha-lipoic acid to the diet increased Lactobacillus population in cecum (p<0.05). Therefore, it is concluded that the use of organic or nano selenium along with alpha-lipoic acid can improve growth performance and gut health in broiler chickens.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Introduction

    In the poultry industry, broiler chickens are exposed to various stress factors due to their rapid growth and high metabolic pressures, which can lead to reduced growth performance. Therefore, the use of antioxidant compounds in the diet of broiler chickens can be an effective strategy to improve health status, reduce the effects of stress, and enhance their growth performance. Selenium is an essential mineral for normal growth, health, and the mitigation of oxidative stress effects in broiler chickens. This mineral is an important component of the glutathione peroxidase enzyme, which protects cells and cell membranes from oxidation. On the other hand, alpha-lipoic acid is a sulfur-containing coenzyme with strong antioxidant properties involved in cellular metabolism and energy production. This molecule acts in the mitochondria as a cofactor for key enzymes in the citric acid cycle and has a unique ability to regenerate various antioxidants such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

 

Materials and methods

For this experiment, 450 male broiler chicks with an average weight of 42 ± 1 grams were used in a completely randomized design in a 2×3 factorial arrangement, including 6 treatments and 5 replicates, with each experimental unit consisting of 15 chicks. The experimental treatments included the combined effects of two factors: three types of selenium sources (inorganic, organic, and nano) and two levels of alpha-lipoic acid inclusion (with and without) in the diet. The alpha-lipoic acid was included in the diets at levels of 0 and 300 mg/kg. The experimental diets were formulated based on the nutritional requirements tables outlined in the Ross 308 Broiler Management Guide (2019).

 

Results

   The results showed that broilers fed diet containing of organic and nano selenium had better feed conversion ratios compared to those fed with selenium. Additionally, supplementation with 300 mg/kg alpha-lipoic acid increased growth performance in the chicks. Selenium sources had a significant effect on the percentage of carcass, thigh, bursa of Fabricius, and spleen. Furthermore, adding alpha-lipoic acid to the diet significantly increased the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius in broilers. In jejunal morphology, the consumption of alpha-lipoic acid and nano selenium increased the length and surface area of jejunal villi. Microbial population results indicated that adding alpha-lipoic acid to the diet increased the population of Lactobacillus in the cecum of broiler chickens.

 

Conclusions

The overall findings of the present study demonstrated that addition of selenium sources as organic and nano forms improved growth performance of broiler chickens. Additionally, adding alpha-lipoic acid supplement to diets was effective in improving feed efficiency, and microbial population of broiler chickens.

Author Contributions

Vahid Rezaeipour: Conceptualization, Validation, Supervision, Writing, Project administration

 Mohammad Vali Mansour Kiaei: Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Original Draft

 Sakineh Asadzadeh: Conceptualization, Validation, Supervision

 Rohullah Abdullahpour: Methodology, Data analysis, Validation, Software

 Mehdi Chobchian: Data analysis, Project administration

Data Availability Statement

All data obtained and analyzed during this experiment are included in this article.

Ethical considerations

Animal handling and experimental procedures were performed according to the guidelines of EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments and animal care protocol was approved by the Department of Animal Science, QaS.C, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran.

Conflict of interests

The authors clarify that they have no conflict of interest in this research.

References

REFERENCES
Abd El-Hack, M. E., Ashour, E. A., Baset, S. A., Kamal, M., Swelum, A. A., Suliman, G. M., & Bassiony, S. S. (2024). Effect of dietary supplementation of organic selenium nanoparticles on growth performance and carcass traits of broiler chickens. Biological trace element research, 202(8), 3760-3766. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03948-x
Ahmadi, M., Poorghasemi, M., Seidavi, A., Hatzigiannakis, E., & Milis, C. (2020). An optimum level of nano-selenium supplementation of a broiler diet according to the performance, economical parameters, plasma constituents and immunity. Journal of Elementology, 25(3), 1187-1198. https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.2020.25.3.1904
Alian, H. A., Samy, H. M., Ibrahim, M. T., & Mahmoud, M. M. (2020). Nanoselenium effect on growth performance, carcass traits, antioxidant activity, and immune status of broilers. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(31), 38607-38616. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09660-4
Arnaut, P. R., da Silva Viana, G., da Fonseca, L., Alves, W. J., Muniz, J. C. L., Pettigrew, J. E., & Hannas, M. I. (2021). Selenium source and level on performance, selenium retention and biochemical responses of young broiler chicks. BMC veterinary research, 17(1), 151. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02881-7
Arshad, M. S., Anjum, F. M., Khan, M. I., Shahid, M., Akhtar, S., & Sohaib, M. (2013). Wheat germ oil enrichment in broiler feed with α-lipoic acid to enhance the antioxidant potential and lipid stability of meat. Lipids in health and disease, 12(1), 164. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-12-164
Awad, A., Zaglool, A. W., Ahmed, S. A., & Khalil, S. R. (2019). Transcriptomic profile change, immunological response and disease resistance of Oreochromis niloticus fed with conventional and Nano-Zinc oxide dietary supplements. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 93, 336-343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2019.04.016
Bakhshalinejad, R., Akbari Moghaddam Kakhki, R., & Zoidis, E. (2018). Effects of different dietary sources and levels of selenium supplements on growth performance, antioxidant status and immune parameters in Ross 308 broiler chickens. British Poultry Science, 59(1), 81-91. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2017.1410102
Bień, D., Michalczuk, M., Szkopek, D., Kinsner, M., & Konieczka, P. (2022). Changes in lipids metabolism indices as a result of different form of selenium supplementation in chickens. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 13817. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15868-3
Boostani, A., Sadeghi, A. A., Mousavi, S. N., Chamani, M., & Kashan, N. (2015). Effects of organic, inorganic, and nano-Se on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, cellular and humoral immune responses in broiler chickens exposed to oxidative stress. Livestock science, 178, 330-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2015.06.019
Chen, P., Ma, Q. G., Ji, C., Zhang, J. Y., Zhao, L. H., Zhang, Y., & Jie, Y. Z. (2011). Dietary lipoic acid influences antioxidant capability and oxidative status of broilers. International journal of molecular sciences, 12(12), 8476-8488. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms12128476
Dalia, A. M., Loh, T. C., Sazili, A. Q., & Samsudin, A. A. (2020). Influence of bacterial organic selenium on blood parameters, immune response, selenium retention and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. BMC veterinary research, 16(1), 365. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02715-2
Fisinin, V. I., Papazyan, T. T., & Surai, P. F. (2008). Selenium in poultry nutrition. In Current advances in selenium research and applications (pp. 221-261). Wageningen Academic. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-741-0_10
Gangadoo, S., Dinev, I., Chapman, J., Hughes, R. J., Van, T. T. H., Moore, R. J., & Stanley, D. (2018). Selenium nanoparticles in poultry feed modify gut microbiota and increase abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 102(3), 1455-1466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8687-4
Guo, Z. Y., Li, J. L., Zhang, L., Jiang, Y., Gao, F., & Zhou, G. H. (2014). Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in different stages on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and meat quality in broiler chickens. British poultry science, 55(5), 635-643. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2014.924256
Huang, C. C., Sun, J., Ji, H., Oku, H., Chang, Z. G., Tian, J. J., & Xie, J. (2019). Influence of dietary alpha-lipoic acid and lipid level on the growth performance, food intake and gene expression of peripheral appetite regulating factors in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Aquaculture, 505, 412-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.412422
Huang, H., Wang, Y., An, Y., Tian, Y., Li, S., & Teng, X. (2017). Selenium for the mitigation of toxicity induced by lead in chicken testes through regulating mRNA expressions of HSPs and selenoproteins. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(16), 14312-14321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0319-4
Hosnedlova, B., Kepinska, M., Skalickova, S., Fernandez, C., Ruttkay-Nedecky, B., Peng, Q., & Kizek, R. (2018). Nano-selenium and its nanomedicine applications: a critical review. International journal of nanomedicine, 2107-2128. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S157541
Hosseintabar-Ghasemabad, B., Kvan, O. V., Sheida, E. V., Bykov, A. V., Zigo, F., Seidavi, A., & Salem, A. Z. M. (2024). Nano selenium in broiler feeding: physiological roles and nutritional effects. AMB Express, 14(1), 117. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-024-01545-7
Hu, C. H., Li, Y. L., Xiong, L., Zhang, H. M., Song, J., & Xia, M. S. (2012). Comparative effects of nano elemental selenium and sodium selenite on selenium retention in broiler chickens. Animal feed science and technology, 177(3-4), 204-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2012.08.010
Kasaikina, M. V., Kravtsova, M. A., Lee, B. C., Seravalli, J., Peterson, D. A., Walter, J. & Gladyshev, V. N. (2011). Dietary selenium affects host selenoproteome expression by influencing the gut microbiota. The FASEB Journal, 25(7), 2492. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.11-185218
Khan, I., Zaneb, H., Masood, S., Ashraf, S., Rehman, H. F., Tahir, S. K. & Shah, M. (2021). Supplementation of selenium nanoparticles-loaded chitosan improves production performance, intestinal morphology, and gut microflora in broiler chickens. The journal of poultry science, 59(3), 272-281. https://doi.org/10.2141/jpsa.0210026
Li, W., Wei, F., Xu, B., Sun, Q., Deng, W., Ma, H., & Li, S. (2019). Effect of stocking density and alpha-lipoic acid on the growth performance, physiological and oxidative stress and immune response of broilers. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 32(12), 1914. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.19.0146
Liao, X., Lu, L., Li, S., Liu, S., Zhang, L., Wang, G., & Luo, X. (2012). Effects of selenium source and level on growth performance, tissue selenium concentrations, antioxidation, and immune functions of heat-stressed broilers. Biological Trace Element Research, 150(1), 158-165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9443-3
Lochi, G. M., Shah, M. G., Gandahi, J. A., Gadahi, J. A., Hadi, S. A., Farooq, T., & Rahmani, M. M. (2023). Effect of selenium nanoparticles and chitosan on production performance and antioxidant integrity of heat-stressed broiler. Biological Trace Element Research, 201(4), 1977-1986. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-02994
Lu, M., Bai, J., Wei, F., Xu, B., Sun, Q., Li, J., & Li, S. (2017). Effects of alpha‐lipoic acid supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and biochemical parameters for ammonia‐exposed broilers. Animal Science Journal, 88(8), 1220-1225. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.12819
Ma, H., Xu, B., Li, W., Wei, F., Kim, W. K., Chen, C., & Li, S. (2020). Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on the behavior, serum indicators, and bone quality of broilers under stocking density stress. Poultry Science, 99(10), 4653-4661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2020.05.012
Mohammadi, A., Ghazanfari, S., & Sharifi, S. D. (2019). Comparative effects of dietary organic, inorganic, and Nano-selenium complexes and rosemary essential oil on performance, meat quality and selenium deposition in muscles of broiler chickens. Livestock Science, 226, 21-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2020.05.012
Mohammadi, E., Janmohammadi, H., Olyayee, M., Helan, J. A., & Kalanaky, S. (2020). Nano selenium improves humoral immunity, growth performance and breast-muscle selenium concentration of broiler chickens. Animal Production Science, 60(16), 1902-1910. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN20186
Molan, A. L., Liu, Z., & Tiwari, R. (2010). The ability of green tea to positively modulate key markers of gastrointestinal function in rats. Phytotherapy Research, 24(11), 1614-1619. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3207
Mousa, B. H., & Hamad, H. Y. (2022). Role of alpha lipoic acid and coenzyme (Q10) in productive performance of broiler. Indian Journal of Ecology, 49(18), 397-401.
Oliveira, T. F. B., Rivera, D. F. R., Mesquita, F. R., Braga, H., Ramos, E. M., & Bertechini, A. G. (2014). Effect of different sources and levels of selenium on performance, meat quality, and tissue characteristics of broilers. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 23(1), 15-22. https://doi.org/10.3382/japr.2013-00859
Packer, L. (1994). Antioxidant properties of lipoic acid and its therapeutic effects in prevention of diabetes complications and cataracts a. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 738(1), 257-264. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb23416.x
Pappas, A. C., Zoidis, E., & Chadio, S. E. (2019). Maternal selenium and developmental programming. Antioxidants, 8(5), 145. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8050145
Sahin, Z., Ozkaya, A., Yilmaz, O., Yuce, A., & Gunes, M. (2017). Investigation of the role of α-lipoic acid on fatty acids profile, some minerals (zinc, copper, iron) and antioxidant activity against aluminum-induced oxidative stress in the liver of male rats. Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 28(4), 355-361. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2016-0117
Sakamoto, K., Hirose, H., Onizuka, A., Hayashi, M., Futamura, N., Kawamura, Y., & Ezaki, T. (2000). Quantitative study of changes in intestinal morphology and mucus gel on total parenteral nutrition in rats. Journal of Surgical Research, 94(2), 99-106.
Saleh, A. A. (2014). Effect of dietary mixture of Aspergillus probiotic and selenium nano-particles on growth, nutrient digestibilities, selected blood parameters and muscle fatty acid profile in broiler chickens. Anim Sci Pap Rep, 32(1), 65-79.
Shi, C., Sun, Y., Zhang, X., Zheng, Z., Yang, M., Ben, H., & Xia, X. (2016). Antimicrobial effect of lipoic acid against Cronobacter sakazakii. Food Control, 59, 352-358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.06.037
Sinha, M., Bir, A., Banerjee, A., Bhowmick, P., & Chakrabarti, S. (2016). Multiple mechanisms of age-dependent accumulation of amyloid beta protein in rat brain: Prevention by dietary supplementation with N-acetylcysteine, α-lipoic acid and α-tocopherol. Neurochemistry international, 95, 92-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2015.12.009
Skalickova, S., Milosavljevic, V., Cihalova, K., Horky, P., Richtera, L., & Adam, V. (2017). Selenium nanoparticles as a nutritional supplement. Nutrition, 33, 83-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2016.08.011
Spalding, M. D., & Prigge, S. T. (2010). Lipoic acid metabolism in microbial pathogens. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 74(2), 200-228. https://doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.00095-09
Srilatha, T., Reddy, V. R., Qudratullah, S., & Raju, M. V. L. N. (2010). Effect of alpha-lipoic acid and vitamin E in diet on the performance, antioxidation and immune response in broiler chicken. International Journal of Poultry Science, 9(7), 678-683.
Surai, P. F., Kochish, I. I., Fisinin, V. I., & Velichko, O. A. (2018). Selenium in poultry nutrition: From sodium selenite to organic selenium sources. The journal of poultry science, 55(2), 79-93. https://doi.org/10.2141/jpsa.0170132
Wang, J., Clark, D. L., Jacobi, S. K., & Velleman, S. G. (2021). Effect of vitamin E and alpha lipoic acid on intestinal development associated with wooden breast myopathy in broilers. Poultry Science, 100(3), 100952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2020.12.044
Wasti, S., Sah, N., Lee, C. N., Jha, R., & Mishra, B. (2021). Dietary supplementation of alpha-lipoic acid mitigates the negative effects of heat stress in broilers. PloS one, 16(7), e0254936.
Woods, S. L., Sobolewska, S., Rose, S. P., Whiting, I. M., Blanchard, A., Ionescu, C., & Pirgozliev, V. (2020). Effect of feeding different sources of selenium on growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers. British Poultry Science, 61(3), 274-280. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2019.1711026
Yang, X., Zhang, H., Pang, F., Zhang, L., Fu, T., Wang, L., & Gao, T. (2023). Effects of α-lipoic acid on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in sheep. Journal of animal science, 101, skad092. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad092
Zamani Moghaddam, A. K., Mehraei Hamzekolaei, M. H., Khajali, F., & Hassanpour, H. (2017). Role of selenium from different sources in prevention of pulmonary arterial hypertension syndrome in broiler chickens. Biological Trace Element Research, 180(1), 164-170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-1039-9
Zhang, J., Xiao, F., Zhang, L., Wang, X., Lai, X., Shen, Y., & Hua, F. (2018). Alpha-lipoic acid preconditioning and ischaemic postconditioning synergistically protect rats from cerebral injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion partly via inhibition TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 51(3), 1448-1460. https://doi.org/10.1159/000495820
Zhou, X., & Wang, Y. J. P. S. (2011). Influence of dietary nano elemental selenium on growth performance, tissue selenium distribution, meat quality, and glutathione peroxidase activity in Guangxi Yellow chicken. Poultry Science, 90(3), 680-686. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-01002
Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 57, Issue 2
July 2026
Pages 315-331

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 14 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 04 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 27 December 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics