Effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens

Lower intramuscular fat (IMF) and excessive abdominal fat reduce carcass quality in broilers. The study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary VD3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broilers over an 84-d feeding experiment. One-day-old male Luhua broilers (210) were...

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Main Authors: Jiawei Li, Ximei Li, Jiamin Tian, Linna Xu, Yan Chen, Susu Jiang, Guohua Zhang, Jianxiong Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1542637/full
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author Jiawei Li
Ximei Li
Jiamin Tian
Linna Xu
Yan Chen
Susu Jiang
Guohua Zhang
Jianxiong Lu
author_facet Jiawei Li
Ximei Li
Jiamin Tian
Linna Xu
Yan Chen
Susu Jiang
Guohua Zhang
Jianxiong Lu
author_sort Jiawei Li
collection DOAJ
description Lower intramuscular fat (IMF) and excessive abdominal fat reduce carcass quality in broilers. The study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary VD3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broilers over an 84-d feeding experiment. One-day-old male Luhua broilers (210) were randomly assigned to control (basal diet) and VD group (basal diet supplemented with 3,750 IU/kg VD3). Samples were collected after a 12-h fasted feeding on days 28, 56, and 84. Supplementary VD3 significantly enhanced average daily gain (ADG) in broilers aged 57-84 d and 1-84 d, and increased leg muscle rate and fat content in breast and leg muscles and reduced abdominal fat rate of broilers at 84 d. VD3 increased TG and glycogen content in the liver of 28- and 84-d-old broilers, serum TG and VLDL-C content at 56 and 84 d, and TC, HDL-C and LDL-C at 84 d. VD3 increased mRNA expressions of genes related to de novo lipogenesis (DNL) (mTOR, SREBP-1c, FAS and ACC), lipid oxidation (AMPK, PPARα, CPT-1α and ACO) and lipid transport (ApoB and MTTP), and FAS, ACC and CPT1 enzyme activities in the liver. However, mRNA levels of genes involved in DNL and cellular lipid uptake (LPL and FATP1) and LPL activity were decreased in abdominal adipose tissue, and that of genes involved in lipid oxidation and lipolysis (HSL and ATGL) was increased by VD3. LPL and FATP1 expression in breast and leg muscles was increased by VD3. Moreover, VD3 increased the abundance of cecum Bacteroides at 28 and 84 d, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Faecalibacterium at 56 and 84 d, and Lachnoclostridium at 84 d. These bacteria were correlated with increased DNL, lipid oxidation and lipid transport in liver, and cellular lipid uptake in muscle, as well as decreased DNL and cellular lipid uptake, and increased lipid oxidation and lipolysis in abdominal adipose tissue. Altogether, supplementary VD3 in basal diet improved growth performance, increased IMF, and reduced abdominal fat rate, which is significant for enhancing feed utilization and improving the carcass quality of broilers. The regulation of VD3 on lipid metabolism could was associated with variation in cecal microbiota composition.
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spelling doaj-art-55925f74ab39454a97b1b57613c37a2e2025-02-06T07:09:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-02-011210.3389/fvets.2025.15426371542637Effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickensJiawei Li0Ximei Li1Jiamin Tian2Linna Xu3Yan Chen4Susu Jiang5Guohua Zhang6Jianxiong Lu7School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, ChinaGansu Provincial Animal Husbandry Technology Popularization Station, Lanzhou, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, ChinaLower intramuscular fat (IMF) and excessive abdominal fat reduce carcass quality in broilers. The study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary VD3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broilers over an 84-d feeding experiment. One-day-old male Luhua broilers (210) were randomly assigned to control (basal diet) and VD group (basal diet supplemented with 3,750 IU/kg VD3). Samples were collected after a 12-h fasted feeding on days 28, 56, and 84. Supplementary VD3 significantly enhanced average daily gain (ADG) in broilers aged 57-84 d and 1-84 d, and increased leg muscle rate and fat content in breast and leg muscles and reduced abdominal fat rate of broilers at 84 d. VD3 increased TG and glycogen content in the liver of 28- and 84-d-old broilers, serum TG and VLDL-C content at 56 and 84 d, and TC, HDL-C and LDL-C at 84 d. VD3 increased mRNA expressions of genes related to de novo lipogenesis (DNL) (mTOR, SREBP-1c, FAS and ACC), lipid oxidation (AMPK, PPARα, CPT-1α and ACO) and lipid transport (ApoB and MTTP), and FAS, ACC and CPT1 enzyme activities in the liver. However, mRNA levels of genes involved in DNL and cellular lipid uptake (LPL and FATP1) and LPL activity were decreased in abdominal adipose tissue, and that of genes involved in lipid oxidation and lipolysis (HSL and ATGL) was increased by VD3. LPL and FATP1 expression in breast and leg muscles was increased by VD3. Moreover, VD3 increased the abundance of cecum Bacteroides at 28 and 84 d, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Faecalibacterium at 56 and 84 d, and Lachnoclostridium at 84 d. These bacteria were correlated with increased DNL, lipid oxidation and lipid transport in liver, and cellular lipid uptake in muscle, as well as decreased DNL and cellular lipid uptake, and increased lipid oxidation and lipolysis in abdominal adipose tissue. Altogether, supplementary VD3 in basal diet improved growth performance, increased IMF, and reduced abdominal fat rate, which is significant for enhancing feed utilization and improving the carcass quality of broilers. The regulation of VD3 on lipid metabolism could was associated with variation in cecal microbiota composition.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1542637/fullbroiler chickenvitamin D3growth performancelipid metabolismcecal microbiota
spellingShingle Jiawei Li
Ximei Li
Jiamin Tian
Linna Xu
Yan Chen
Susu Jiang
Guohua Zhang
Jianxiong Lu
Effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
broiler chicken
vitamin D3
growth performance
lipid metabolism
cecal microbiota
title Effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens
title_full Effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens
title_fullStr Effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens
title_full_unstemmed Effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens
title_short Effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 on growth performance, lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens
title_sort effects of supplementation with vitamin d3 on growth performance lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens
topic broiler chicken
vitamin D3
growth performance
lipid metabolism
cecal microbiota
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1542637/full
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