Comparative study of certain antioxidants-electrolyzed reduced water, tocotrienol and vitamin E in heat-induced oxidative damage and performance in broilers

This study was designed to examine the anti-oxidative effect of electrolyzed reduced water, tocotrienol and vitamin E on heat-induced oxidative damage and performance in an experimental model in broilers. On day 12, broiler chickens were subjected to one of the following dietary groups; (i) basal diet and untreated drinking water (control), (ii) basal diet and electrolyzed reduced drinking water (ERW), (iii) basal diet supplemented with 2% rice bran scum oil (as a source of tocotreinol) and untreated drinking water (TOCO), and (iv) basal diet supplemented with vitamin E at 50 mg/kg and untreated drinking water (VITE). On day 14, chickens were exposed to either 34°C continuously for a period of 14 days, or maintained at 24°C on the same diet. Heat-exposed birds consumed significantly less feed resulting in lower weight gain and feed efficiency compared with birds kept at 24°C. Skeletal muscle and liver MDA levels were significantly increased in heat-exposed control birds. The heat-exposed ERW chicks showed significantly improved growth performance and lower levels of MDA contents in tissues than heat-stressed control broilers. Following heat exposure, TOCO and VITE chicks did not exhibit improved performance, while those chicks significantly reduced oxidative damage to the various organs. The results demonstrate that electrolyzed reduced water, tocotrienol and vitamin E effectively protect heat-induced oxidative damage in broilers but they do not improve growth performance except electrolyzed reduced water treatment.