Dietary silymarin improves performance by altering hepatic lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota function and its metabolites in late laying hens.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Liver lipid dysregulation is one of the major factors in the decline of production performance in late-stage laying hens. Silymarin (SIL), a natural flavonolignan extracted from milk thistle, is known for its hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering properties in humans. This study evaluates whether SIL can provide similar benefits to late-stage laying hens. A total of 480 68-week-old Lohmann Pink laying hens were randomly assigned into 5 groups, each group consisting of 6 replicates with 16 hens each. The birds received a basal diet either without silymarin (control) or supplemented with silymarin at concentrations of 250, 500, 750, or 1,000 mg/kg (SIL250, SIL500, SIL750, SIL1000) over a 12-week period.

Results

The CON group exhibited a significant decline in laying r

SUBMITTER: Guo Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11245868 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature