Effects of Dietary Chromium Picolinate on Gut Microbiota, Gastrointestinal Peptides, Glucose Homeostasis, and Performance of Heat-Stressed Broilers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: High ambient temperature is a common environmental issue in poultry breeding. It not only seriously damaged the growth performance of broilers, but also had adverse effects on intestinal microbial composition, gastrointestinal peptide, and glucose homeostasis. Trivalent chromium has the ability to improve the absorption and utilization of glucose. To date, the impacts of trivalent chromium on the above indexes remain only partially clear. This research discussed the influence of chromium supplementation on performance, microbiota, gastrointestinal peptides, and glucose homeostasis in heat-stressed broilers. ABSTRACT: The current research was devoted to evaluating the effects on gut microbiota, gastrointestinal peptides, and glucose homeostasis of chromium picolinate applied to heat-stressed broilers. In a 14 d experiment, 220 28-day-old AA broilers were randomly assigned into one thermal-neutral and three high-temperature groups dietary-supplemented with 0, 0.4, or 0.8 mg/kg of chromium as chromium picolinate. The temperature for the thermal-neutral group was set at 21 °C, while that for the other three groups (high temperature) was set at 31 °C. The results showed that the average daily gain and average daily feed intake of the 0.4 mg/kg chromium-supplemented group significantly increased compared with the high-temperature groups (p < 0.05). The content of cholecystokinin in the 0.4 mg/kg group significantly decreased, and the gastric inhibitory polypeptide level was significantly elevated in jejunum (p < 0.05). The cecal microbiota of heat-stressed broilers was substantially different from that of the thermal-neutral group. After diet-supplemented chromium, compared to the high-temperature groups, the 0.4 mg/kg chromium supplemented group was characterized by a reduction of Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria at the phylum level. The Bacilli were elevated, while proportions of Coriobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were reduced significantly at the class level. The proportions of Lactobacillaceae, Christensenellaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae were elevated significantly, while that of Clostridiaceae was reduced significantly at the family level. The proportion of Turicibacter was elevated significantly and the proportions of Olsenella and Ruminococcus were reduced significantly at the genus level (p < 0.05). Compared to the high-temperature groups, in the 0.4 mg/kg chromium-supplemented group, the insulin concentration and insulin resistance index were reduced (p < 0.05), and sodium-glucose transporter 1 expression was up-regulated in jejunum (p < 0.05). Performance, microbiota, gastrointestinal peptides, or serum parameters of the 0.8 mg/kg group were almost unaffected by chromium compared with the high-temperature groups. In conclusion, diet supplemented with 0.4 mg/kg Cr improved performance, insulin resistance and sodium-glucose transporter 1 expression and altered gut microflora structure and secretion of gastrointestinal peptides, thus showing that supplementation with chromium is beneficial to maintain glucose homeostasis and alleviate heat stress.