Effects of lycopene and vitamin E on antioxidant status, thyroid hormones and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chicks under transportation stress

Articles in Press

Document Type : Full Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc Student of Poultry Nutrition, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

2 *Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Animal Science, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The use of antioxidant compounds is an effective way to reduce stress in broiler chicks during transportation. Objectives: The present research was conducted for determining the effects of lycopene and vitamin E on antioxidant status, thyroid hormones and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chicks under transportation stress. Methods: The 4×3 factorial experiment was managed in a completely randomized design with 600 broiler chicks in 12 treatments and 5 replicates of 10 birds each. The first factor was primary nutrition in the four types (the first group was positive control without any nutritional program, the second group was negative control using olive oil, the third group was vitamin E in the amount of 0.6 mg for each chicken and the fourth group was feeding with 0.5 mg of lycopene per chick) and the second factor was the transfer time in three time of 1, 4 and 8 hours. In the present study, serum antioxidant indices, thyroid hormones and blood biochemical parameters were determined in broiler chickens under transportation stress. Results: The lowest and the highest weight loss of yolk sac were observed in positive control group and vitamin E group respectively (P<0.05). The highest weight loss of yolk sac were observed in broilers were fed with vitamin E and transferred for 4 hours and the lowest weight loss of yolk sac were observed in positive control group and transferred for 8 hours (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in serum parameters between different treatments. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that using of vitamin E and lycopene had not beneficial effect in reducing the intensity of stress during road transport in broiler chicks.

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Main Subjects

Veterinary Research & Biological Products

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 02 September 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 25 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 01 September 2025

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