F. Kurtoglu

Effect of probiotic supplementation on laying hen diets on yield performance and serum and egg yolk cholesterol

The effects of dietary supplementation of a commercial probiotic (BioPlus 2B) on daily feed consumption, egg yield, egg weight, specific gravity, body weight, feed conversion ratio, serum and egg yolk cholesterol, and serum trigylceride in layer hens were investigated. In 12 replicates, 480 27-week-old Brown-Nick layers were fed with diets containing 0, 250, 500 or 750 mg kg−1 probiotic for 90 days. When compared with the controls, supplementation of 250, 500 and 750 mg kg−1 probiotic increased egg production, but decreased the damaged egg ratio (p<0.05), egg yolk cholesterol and serum cholesterol (p<0.001) levels. In addition, serum triglyceride levels were reduced by using 500 and 750 mg kg−1 probiotic supplementation (p<0.001). Feed conversion ratios were positively affected by supplementation of 250 and 500 mg kg−1 probiotic compared with controls (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the control and all treatment groups on feed consumption, egg weight, specific gravity, body weight, and egg yolk weight.

Comparison of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity before and after running exercises in both sexes

BACKGROUND It has been difficult to determine, from the published literature, whether men or women have higher levels of exercise-induced oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare variations between the sexes in lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) after 3 different running exercises performed at the same speed. METHODS Eligible participants were healthy university students of both sexes. The participants performed running exercise tests at distances of 800, 1500, and 3000 m at a speed of 10 km/h. Blood samples were taken from the participants just before and immediately after the running activities to determine LPO, SOD, CAT, GR, and LDH, and these measures were compared both before and after exercise and between the sexes. RESULTS A total of 17 young and healthy, but not physically trained, students (n = 8 men; mean age, 22.00 years; n = 9 women; mean age, 21.78 years) participated in this study. Height, weight, and maximum oxygen consumption values were significantly higher in men than in women (P = 0.01). Significant gender effects were found in LPO levels at 3000 m (F = 5.51; P = 0.03) and in SOD activity at 800 m (F = 7.92; P = 0.01) and 3000 m (F = 6.05; P = 0.03). CAT activity also differed between the sexes at 800 m (F = 15.67; P = 0.01) and 1500 m (F = 6.55; P = 0.02). However, no significant gender-time interaction effect was observed for any measurement at the 800-, 1500-, and 3000-m distances. CONCLUSIONS Changes in LPO, SOD, and CAT activities at different running distances were not different between men and women over time because of a nonsignificant gender-time interaction. With regard to changes in oxidative stress, men and women had similar responses to exercise at the same absolute workload, despite significant differences in physical characteristics.

The effects of various levels of boron supplementation on live weight, plasma lipid peroxidation, several biochemical and tissue antioxidant parameters of male mice**: Effects of boron on performance, antioxidant and some metabolits of mice

In this study, live weight, live weight gain, plasma GPx, GR, LDH, ALT activities, triglyceride, total protein, albumin and LPO levels, also liver and brain SOD and GPx activities were investigated after administration of boron (0.10, 0.20 and 0.30 mg/day) into male mice with drinking water for 60 days. Blood albumin and triglyceride levels were not affected with boron (p > 0.05) where triglyceride levels, with increasing amounts of boron, displayed a slight decrease within the normal ranges. From the antioxidant-oxidant balance parameters, LPO and GR levels were not affected from boron, where GPx activity was increased significantly (p < 0.001) comparing the groups of boron and control. LDH and ALT activities were affected significantly (p < 0.001) with decreased ALT and increased LDH levels with increasing amounts of boron. In regards of liver and brain GPx and SOD activities, significant increases were determined. Liver GPx and SOD activities were increased within the groups with the increasing amount of boron, where in brain, SOD (p < 0.05) was affected significantly but GPx (p > 0.05) displayed a gradual insignificant increase. As regards live weight gain, a gradual increase was determined during experimental period, but only the 45th day, the increase was statistically significant (p < 0.05). It is suggested that, new studies on the effects of different doses and compounds of boron in laboratory animals in regards of antioxidant and metabolic effects may be helpful for the understanding of the subject.