The effect of genistein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on performance and antioxidant status in quail

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of environmental temperature, dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and genistein supplementation on performance and levels of genistein, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of serum and meat and fatty acid profile of meat in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The birds (n=360; 10-day old) reared under two environmental temperature [Thermoneutral (TN) and Heat stress (HS)] were assigned randomly to 1 of 12 diets containing 2 PUFA (15 or 45 g/100 g fat) and 3 genistein (0, 400 and 800 mg/kg) levels in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement.Body weights (BW), body weights gain (BWG), and cumulative feed intake (FI) were greater and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better for TN groups than HS (P<0.0001). Increasing dietary PUFA level from 15 to 45% was associated with decreases in BW (P<0.0001), BWG (P<0.0001), FI (P<0.01) and an increase in FCR (P<0.0001). Final BW and BWG linearly increased and FCR linearly enhanced with increasing genistein (P<0.0001). There was no environmental temperature by dietary PUFA level interaction effect on performance variables. However, performance variables were affected by environmental temperature and genistein levels.TN groups had grater proportions of PUFA (P<0.0001), MUFA (P<0.0001), total ?-6 (P<0.0001), total ?-3 (P<0.0001) and the ratio of ?-6 to ?-3 (P<0.003) and smaller proportions of total SFA (P<0.0001) than HS groups. PUFA15 groups had greater MUFA, SFA, and the ratio of ?-6 to ?-3 and less PUFA, total ?-6, total ?-3 than PUFA45 groups (P<0.0001). Neither there was a main effect of genistein supplementation nor environmental temperature by genistein supplementation interaction effect on thigh muscle FA profile in quail.HS groups had higher serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and less serum genistein, vitamin C, E and A concentrations than TN groups (P<0.0001). PUFA15 groups had less serum MDA concentration (P<0.0001) and higher serum genistein concentration (P<0.04) than PUFA45 groups. Serum MDA linearly decreased, whereas serum genistein linearly increased as supplemental genistein increased (P<0.0001). HS groups had greater thigh muscle MDA concentration and less thigh muscle genistein, vitamin E and A concentrations than TN (P<0.0001). PUFA15 groups had less thigh muscle MDA concentration than quails fed PUFA45 (P<0.0001). Thigh muscle MDA linearly decreased, whereas serum genistein linearly increased as supplemental genistein increased (P<0.0001).In conclusion, feeding a diet rich in PUFA increases meat PUFA content and supplemental genistein prevents lipid peroxidation through increasing serum and meat genistein concentrations without affecting vitamins levels in quail.