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. 2021 Dec;100(12):101481.
doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101481. Epub 2021 Sep 16.

Synergistic effects of quercetin and vitamin E on egg production, egg quality, and immunity in aging breeder hens

Felix Kwame Amevor  1 , Zhifu Cui  1 , Zifan Ning  1 , Xiaxia Du  1 , Ningning Jin  1 , Gang Shu  2 , Xun Deng  1 , Qing Zhu  1 , Yaofu Tian  1 , Diyan Li  1 , Yan Wang  1 , Zhichao Zhang  1 , Xiaoling Zhao  3
Affiliations

Synergistic effects of quercetin and vitamin E on egg production, egg quality, and immunity in aging breeder hens

Felix Kwame Amevor et al. Poult Sci. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Laying hens experience a rapid decline in egg production, egg quality, and immunity, usually at the end of the peak laying period. Quercetin, a known flavonoid, exerts biological activities, including phytoestrogenic, immunity, antibiotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E also shows egg production and immunoregulatory potential in animals. This study evaluated the capacity of dietary quercetin, vitamin E, and the combination of both, to promote egg production and egg quality, and to improve the immunity of aging breeder hens. We also elucidated how quercetin and vitamin E combination could synergistically affect egg production, egg quality, and immunity in aging breeder hens. A total of 400 Tianfu broiler breeders at the age of 52 wk were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 4 replicates, 100 hens per treatment and 25 hens per replicate. They were fed diets containing quercetin at 0.4 g/kg, Vitamin E (200 mg/kg), quercetin and vitamin E (0.4 g/kg and 200 mg/kg), and a basal diet (control) for a period 10 wk. Daily feed intake and egg production rate were recorded, and weekly records were recorded on egg quality tests. At the end of the 10-wk experimental period, blood samples and immune organ (spleen) were collected from 2 birds per replicate, totaling 32 birds. Feed intake, immune organ index, serum cytokines, and immunoglobulins were evaluated, and the mRNA expression of genes related to immunity was determined from the spleen tissue. Generally, the results showed that separately or as a combination, supplemental quercetin and vitamin E significantly improved performance and egg quality (P < 0.05), and significantly increased serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG) and cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) concentrations, as well as promoted immune organ development and index, and promoted the expression of splenic immune-related genes (IL-2 and INF-γ) (P < 0.05), compared with the control. It was confirmed in this study that the combination of quercetin and vitamin E exert synergistic effects on egg production, egg quality, and immune function in aging hens.

Keywords: aging breeder hen; egg production; immunity; quercetin; vitamin E.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURES The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of dietary Quercetin (Q), Vitamin E (VE), and Q + VE on serum immunoglobulins of aging hens. The values are presented a mean ± standard deviation. Bars without the same letter differed significantly (P < 0.05). A–C represents serum IgA, IgM, and IgG, respectively. Abbreviations: IgA, immunoglobulin A; IgM, immunoglobulin M; IgG, immunoglobulin G.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of Quercetin, Vitamin E, and Q + VE on serum cytokines levels (INF-γ and IL-2) of aging hens. The values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Bars without the same letter differed significantly (P < 0.05). A and B represent serum INF-γ and IL-2, respectively.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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