REDUCING INDICES OF OXIDATIVE STRESS CAUSED BY DIETARY AFLATOXINS WITH ANTIOXIDANTS AND VITAMIN K SUPPLEMENTATIONS

Abstract

Aflatoxins are unavoidable toxic contaminants in animals’ feed. Nutrition-derived vitamins and mineral with antioxidant properties such as vitamins E, C and selenium can be used to counteract the Oxidative stress (OS) effects of aflatoxins on broiler chickens. Limited information exists on the combination and dosage of these antioxidants and vitamin K, that will be effective in counteracting OS effects of aflatoxins. Response of broiler chickens fed aflatoxin-contaminated diets to different combinations of Supplemental Dietary Antioxidants (SDA) and VK was investigated. One-day-old (n = 180) Arbor Acres broiler chick (unsexed) were randomly allotted into six treatment diets comprising Negative Control (NC), Basal Diet (BD), diet containing 270ppb aflatoxins and other BD’s containing vitamins: E (VE), C (VC), K (VK) and selenium (Se) at 200mg, 250mg, 3mg and 0.3mg/kg diet, respectively in four combinations: D1- (BD+VE+VC), D2- (BD+VE+VC+Se), D3 (BD+VE+VC+VK) and D4- (BD+VE+VC+VK+Se) Serum biochemical enzymes, reduced/oxidised glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and lipid peroxidation (LP) index (Malondialdehyde-MDA nmol/mL) were assayed. Experimental design was completely randomised and study lasted for 42 days. Data were analysed with ANOVA at α0.05. The SDA and VK significantly reduced LP activity by 30% reduction in MDA level from 128.29±31.16 (BD) to 42.00±10.40 (D4), compared to 10-fold increase in BD (128.29±31.16), against NC (12.41±10.56). Combinations of SDA and VK improved oxidative-stress index (GSH:GSSG) by 60% rise in D4 (2.19±0.92:1), as against 22.8% in BD (0.83±0.58:1), when compared to NC (3.64±1.44:1). Addition of supplemental dietary antioxidants and vitamin K reduced lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress effects of aflatoxins in broiler chickens.