Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary lupin (Lupinus albus var Multolupa) in chicken diets

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of different concentrations of lupin seeds (0, 200, and 400 g/kg), with and without cholesterol added (10 g/kg), in chicken diets on performance, relative liver weight, liver fat, intestinal pH and viscosity, and different blood serum parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total biliary salts, amylase, total protein and albumin, and globulin fractions). Increasing the lupin content in the diet reduced weight gain and feed consumption and increased feed-to-gain ratio. A decrease in liver fat, cecal pH, serum glucose, cholesterol, total biliary salts, and total protein and an increase in jejunum viscosity were observed with increasing concentration of lupins. Serum albumin, β-globulin, γ-globulin, and albumin: globulin ratio were reduced by the addition of lupin in the diet. Cholesterol supplementation of diets had no effect on the performance, cecal pH, and serum triglycerides. Relative liver weight, liver fat, jejunum viscosity, serum cholesterol, total biliary salts, and total protein were increased, and serum glucose was reduced by addition of cholesterol. Cholesterol increased serum albumin, α-1 globulin, α-2 globulin, and β-globulin and reduced albumin:globulin ratio and amylase. These results indicate that inclusion of lupin seed in chicken diets causes a growth depression and a reduction of serum cholesterol and glucose and modifies other physiological parameters. ©2007 Poultry Science Association Inc.Peer Reviewe