Influence of lycopene supplementation to diets containing oxidized oil on growth performance, blood metabolites and carcas characterictes of broilers

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of lycopene supplementation to diets containing oxidized oil on performance, carcass and some blood parameters of broilers. One week old male chicks (Ross-308) were divided 4 treatments groups containing 20 birds each. The birds were fed basal diets (control), 6.0-8.0 meq/kg oxidized oil, 400 ppm Lycopene (%0.8 lycopene including Lyc-O-Mato®) and 6.0-8.0 meq/kg oxidized oil+400 ppm Lycopene supplemented diets for 5 weeks period.The results showed that oxidized oil inclusion and supplemental lycopene did not have significant effects on feed intake, body weight, feed efficiency, abdominal fat deposition and carcass weight. However liver weight was increased by supplemental lycopene.Thiobarbituric acid levels in the mass tissue and skin were lower in the group receiving supplemental lycopene. Plasma triglyceride concentration was increased by supplemental lycopene. Total antioxidant capacity in the plasma was higher in the group receiving supplemental lycopene, while lipid peroxidation content in the plasma was increased by dietary oxidized oil.The results obtained in the present study suggests that lycopene supplementation to diets containing oxidized oil had significant effects on broilers antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation level and, lycopene supplementation could have a potential to improve immune response.