Effect of Dietary Soybean-Germ Protein on Abdominal Fat Accumulation in Growing Broiler Chickens

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary soybean-germ protein (SGP) on abdominal fat accumulation in growing broiler chickens. A total of 24 seven day-old male broiler chicks were allocated to two cages and fed a control diet or a SGP diet for 21 days. Dietary SGP significantly decreased the weight of abdominal adipose tissue. Hepatic triglyceride content and plasma levels of triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein-triglyceride were significantly decreased by dietary SGP. The enzymatic activity and mRNA level of fatty acid synthase in the liver were significantly decreased by dietary SGP. These results suggest that dietary SGP might reduce abdominal fat accumulation by downregulation of fatty acid synthesis in the liver of growing broiler chickens. The weights of breast muscles and thighs were significantly increased by dietary SGP. The ribosomal capacity of the breast muscles was significantly increased by dietary SGP. These results suggest that dietary SGP might increase skeletal muscle weight by upregulation of protein synthesis in the muscle of growing broiler chicken. All our findings suggest that SGP can be used as a new feed ingredient for broiler chickens.

Keywords

• adipose tissue
• fatty acid synthesis
• muscle
• protein synthesis
• soybean-germ protein