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. 2025 Feb;203(2):1035-1047.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-024-04220-6. Epub 2024 Jun 24.

Growth Performance of and Liver Function in Heat-Stressed Magang Geese Fed the Antioxidant Zinc Ascorbate and Its Potential Mechanism of Action

Yanli Ren  1 , Yunan Sun  2 , Hafiz Umer Javad  3 , Renkai Wang  4 , Zhiqing Zhou  4 , Yunmao Huang  4 , Xugang Shu  5   6 , Cuijin Li  7
Affiliations

Growth Performance of and Liver Function in Heat-Stressed Magang Geese Fed the Antioxidant Zinc Ascorbate and Its Potential Mechanism of Action

Yanli Ren et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity of zinc ascorbate (AsA-Zn), its effects on the growth performance of and liver function in Magang geese under heat stress, and its potential mechanism. At AsA-Zn concentrations of 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 µmol/L, the 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS·+) radical scavenging rate increased significantly by 120.85%, 53.43%, 36.12%, and 0.99%, respectively, compared with that of ascorbic acid (AsA), indicating that AsA-Zn had better antioxidant performance in vitro. In this study, Magang geese were divided into a control group (basal diet, CON) and experimental groups, who received the basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg AsA or 30 (AsA-Zn30), 60 (AsA-Zn60), or 90 (AsA-Zn90) mg/kg AsA-Zn. AsA-Zn supplementation considerably reduced the feed-to-gain ratio, whereas both AsA and AsA-Zn significantly increased the thymus index. Moreover, AsA-Zn supplementation improved serum protein levels, lipid metabolism, liver function, and antioxidant capacity while reducing hepatocyte vacuolar degeneration. Furthermore, supplementation with AsA-Zn60 significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity and decreased the malondialdehyde content in the serum, liver, and hepatic mitochondria (P < 0.05), with more pronounced effects in the AsA-Zn60 group. Moreover, supplementation with ASA-Zn regulated the Nrf 2 signaling pathway and significantly increased the expression of genes encoding antioxidant-related factors in the liver. In conclusion, AsA-Zn has good antioxidant activity, and AsA-Zn supplementation may improve the antioxidant capacity of heat-stressed geese and promote their growth. Supplementation with 30 mg/kg AsA-Zn is recommended.

Keywords: Antioxidant capacity; Growth performance; Magang goose; Zinc ascorbate.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics Approval: The experimental animal sample collection scheme used was approved by the Animal Welfare Committee of Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering (Approval code: no. 20220722-001). Informed Consent: Informed consent was obtained from all the subjects involved in the study. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

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