Low energy diets supplemented with lysophosphatidylcholine improve production performance and lipid metabolism in broilers

Compared with the NC group, the addition of 500 and 750 mg/kg LPC both increased final weight and average daily gain (ADG) while decreasing feed-to-gain at 1-42 days (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, LPC supplementation at 750 mg/kg significantly increased OM and EE digestibility compared with the NC group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, LPC supplementation at 750 mg/kg improved the carcass traits at 21 and 42 days (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, the improved meat quality from LPC supplementation was evidenced by increased intramuscular fat, reduced drip loss at 500 mg/kg, and optimized meat color (L, a, and b*) at 750 mg/kg (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, 750 mg/kg LPC positively modulated serum biochemistry and hepatic lipid metabolism, as evidenced by reduced activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and lower levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and malondialdehyde (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, low-energy diets supplemented with LPC at 750 mg/kg effectively improved production performance, meat quality, and health status by regulating hepatic lipid metabolism, which provides a theoretical basis for its application in the poultry industry.