Effects of dietary supplements of selenium, vitamin E or combinations of the two on antibody responses of broilers

Br Poult Sci. 2006 Dec;47(6):714-9. doi: 10.1080/00071660601040079.

Abstract

1. The effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on some immune parameters were investigated in broilers. 2. Broiler chicks were fed on maize-soybean diets with different concentrations of vitamin E (0-200 mg/kg) and selenium (0-0.2 mg/kg diet) either alone or in combinations from 1 to 42 d of age. 3. Chicks were immunised against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine at 21 d of age and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titres were determined after 10 d. 4. Chicks receiving supplements of 200 mg vitamin E/kg and 0.2 mg selenium/kg produced significantly higher HI antibody titres. This was associated with an increased serum concentration of total immunoglobulins and circulatory immune complexes. 5. The chicks given 200 mg vitamin E/kg and 0.2 mg selenium/kg had significantly heavier spleen and bursa. 6. These results suggested that vitamin E and selenium have synergistic effects on immune responses.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex / blood*
  • Body Weight
  • Chickens / blood
  • Chickens / immunology*
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / veterinary
  • Immunoglobulins / blood*
  • Lymphoid Tissue / drug effects
  • Male
  • Selenium / administration & dosage
  • Selenium / pharmacology*
  • Vitamin E / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin E / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Vitamin E
  • Selenium