NUTRIGENETIC EFFECT OF Centella asiatica AND Capsicum annum ON BODY WEIGHT AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN CHICKENS

Abstract

A set of 80 birds (40 Marshall broiler chicks of mixed sexes and 40 Harco black layer lineage chicks also of mixed sexes) were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 Factorial (Genotype x Dietary Centella x Dietary Cayenne Pepper) layout of treatments within a Completely Randomized Design to evaluate the effects of Genotype, dietary Centella asiatica at 0 and 0.2 % levels, and Capsicum annum at 0 and 0.2 % levels, and their two- and three-way interactions modulation of cardiovascular disease risk through their effects on performance (body weight), fatness (Body Mass Index), lipid profile, inflammation / rheology and insulin secretion and action (Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance, IPGTT) in chickens. Body weight at age 1, 4 and 7 weeks was significantly (p<0.05) determined by Genotype and Genotype x Cayenne interaction. Fasting glycaemia in the IPGTT was significantly determined by Genotype, Cayenne, Centella x Cayenne and Genotype x Centella x Cayenne factor and factor interactions. These data point to significant benefits of Centella asiatica and Cayenne pepper nutriceuticals for reducing cardiovascular risk in chickens raised as broilers. Centella asiatica should be used as a nutraceutical dietary supplement at the level examined, to reduce cardiovascular risk over a 7 week production cycle through its effect in transiently reducing body weight and improving insulin secretion and action as measured by glucose tolerance. Cayenne pepper should be used as a nutraceutical dietary supplement at the level examined, to reduce cardiovascular risk over a 7 week production cycle through its effect in reducing inflammation. Given the nutrigenetic (Genotype x Nutraceutical interaction) effects observed here, care should be exercised in use of Centella asiatica and Cayenne pepper for the prescribed purposes, ensuring that the desired effects are present within the genotype background context in which they are used.