Oral Administration of Fucoxanthin Increases Plasma Fucoxanthinol Concentration and Antioxidative Ability and Improves Meat Color in Broiler Chicks

Effects of the oral administration of fucoxanthin (FX), a major carotenoid of algae, on plasma fucoxanthinol (FX-OH) concentration, plasma antioxidative status, and meat color and lipid stability during chilling storage in broiler chicks were investigated. One-week-old male broiler chicks were divided into control and FX treatment groups. For the FX treatement group, FX was given into the crop of each bird at a volume of 10 mg per day per bird for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of treatment, the plasma, liver, and superficial pectoral muscle were harvested. FX was not detected in either the plasma or liver of control and FX-treated birds, although FX-OH was detected in both the plasma and liver of the FX-treated group. Plasma antioxidative activity against a peroxyl radical derived from 2, 2ʹ-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride was observed in FX-treated chicks but not in control chicks. FX treatment did not affect the L* and a* values nor the lipid peroxide content of superficial pectoral muscle during 6 days of chilling storage. However, FX treatment increased the b* value of superficial pectoral muscle compared to the control group (P<0.05). These results indicated that FX was incorporated and converted into FX-OH during absorption, and that FX-OH acted as an antioxidant in chick plasma. It was also revealed that the FX treatment for broiler chicks affected their meat color. Our results suggested that FX is a potent antioxidative feed ingredient for enhancing both the plasma antioxidative status and meat color in broiler chicks.