Effects of N,N-dimethylglycine sodium salt on apparent digestibility, vitamin E absorption, and serum proteins in broiler chickens fed a high- or low-fat diet

Poult Sci. 2013 May;92(5):1221-6. doi: 10.3382/ps.2012-02465.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of supplementation with sodium salt of N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG-Na) on apparent digestibility (AD) in broiler chickens fed low- and high-fat diets. Twenty-eight 1-d-old broiler chickens were fed one of the dietary treatments: a low-fat diet (LF) or a high-fat diet (HF) supplemented with or without 1,000 mg/kg of DMG-Na. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded at 14 and 35 d of age. Average daily growth, daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were calculated. The AD of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, total fat (TF), and α-tocopheryl-acetate were assessed by 2 digestibility trials (at 18-21 and 32-35 d, respectively). Serum protein and plasma α-tocopherol concentrations were assessed at 35 d of age. Final BW, feed intake, carcass, breast, and spleen weight were higher in groups fed LF than HF diets (P = 0.048, P = 0.002, P = 0.039, P < 0.001, P = 0.007, respectively). Liver weight was increased in DMG-Na-unsupplemented groups (P = 0.011) for both fat levels. During the first digestibility trial (18-21 d), the AD of DM (P = 0.023), OM (P = 0.033), CP (P = 0.030), and α-tocopheryl-acetate (P = 0.036) was higher in the DMG-Na-supplemented group than control. Digestibility of total fat was increased by DMG-Na supplementation in the LF groups (P = 0.038). A trend for improvement of digestibility was observed during the second digestibility trial (32-35 d) for DM (P = 0.089), OM (P = 0.051), and CP (P = 0.063) in DMG-Na groups. Total serum proteins (and relative fractions) were positively influenced by DMG-Na supplementation both in LF and HF diets (P = 0.029). Plasma α-tocopherol concentration was higher in groups fed LF than HF diets (P < 0.001).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins / analysis
  • Chickens / growth & development
  • Chickens / physiology*
  • Diet, Fat-Restricted / veterinary
  • Diet, High-Fat / veterinary
  • Dietary Fats / metabolism*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Digestion*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Male
  • Sarcosine / administration & dosage
  • Sarcosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin E / metabolism
  • Weight Gain

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Dietary Fats
  • Vitamin E
  • dimethylglycine
  • Sarcosine