Dietary encapsulated probiotic effect on broiler serum biochemical parameters

AIM: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of encapsulated probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus lactis and Bifidobacterium bifidum) on broiler serum biochemical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Encapsulation protects the probiotics and increases their livability on exposure to unfavorable processing and storage temperatures and gastrointestinal pH. Hence, an in vitro study was undertaken to encapsulate the probiotic bacteria L. lactis and B. bifidum with sodium alginate and chitosan and evaluate the encapsulation efficiency. This experiment was conducted with 288-day-old broiler chicken; they were distributed randomly into eight treatments and six replicates in each treatment (six birds in each replicate) and given with standard feed. RESULTS: Supplementation of the encapsulated bacteria either alone or in combination (T(4), T(6), and T(8)) significantly (p<0.05) increased mean total serum protein, albumin, and globulin as compared to the birds that were not supplemented with any probiotic (T(1) and T(2)) or supplemented with non-encapsulated bacteria (T(3), T(5), and T(7)). Supplementation of the encapsulated bacteria either alone or in combination (T(4), T(6), and T(8)) significantly (p<0.05) lowered mean total serum cholesterol, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and serum triglycerides, as compared to the birds that were not supplemented with any probiotic (T(1) and T(2)) or supplemented with non-encapsulated bacteria (T(3), T(5), and T(7)). CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that supplementation of the encapsulated probiotic bacteria either alone or in combination significantly increased total serum protein, albumin, and globulin and significantly lowered mean total serum cholesterol, serum LDL cholesterol, and serum triglycerides as compared to the birds that were not supplemented with any probiotic or supplemented with non-encapsulated bacteria.