Effects of Dietary Chromium Picolinate on Gut Microbiota, Gastrointestinal Peptides, Glucose Homeostasis, and Performance of 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.

The effect of different levels of vitamin C and chromium on growth performance, carcass characteristics, digestive organs, immunity, blood constituents, liver enzymes, cecal microflora, meat sensory taste and fatty acid profile of breast meat in broilers

“…Undoubtedly, diet is a factor that influences the composition of the cecal microflora. Coliform reduction and Lactobacillus increase, to be beneficial to normal glucose metabolism, alleviate insulin resistance (G. Wang et al., 2022). Therefore, these alterations in microflora suggest that VC500+Cr700 supplementation was beneficial in alleviating insulin resistance and improving glucose homeostasis.…”

The effect of gut microbiota-derived carnosine on mucosal integrity and immunity in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima

“…Their primary function of SGLT is to facilitate glucose absorption from the digested feed, ensuring that the chicken's body receives an adequate supply of glucose for energy production and other metabolic processes ( Awad et al, 2014 ). The primary role of LAT1 is to mediate the transport of large neutral amino acids, including leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and methionine ( Wang et al, 2022 ; Abdel-Raheem et al, 2023 ). In our study, these results were not as clear as we expected, but the dietary supplementation of carnosine at 10 mg/kg showed a tendency to induce beneficial effects on the expression of amino acid and glucose transporters in the jejunum of chickens infected with E. maxima , compared to chickens infected with E. maxima without carnosine supplementation.…”

A Blend Consisting of Agaran from Seaweed Gracilaria birdiae and Chromium Picolinate Is a Better Antioxidant Agent than These Two Compounds Alone

“…It is an organic compound in which three picolinic acid residues are attached to a chromium atom [41]. ChrPic ingestion has been shown to improve mood [42], appetite [43], and glucose regulation in several groups of psychiatric patients [44,45]. ChrPic may also be useful in the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED) [46], depression [47] and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) [48].…”