Effect of Ascorbic Acid Supplementations on Tissue Lead Residue of Broiler Chicken

This study investigated potential benefits of ascorbic acid supplementation in decreasing tissue-lead retention in broiler chickens. Such data in broilers were scarce and for this purpose 120 day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into six treatment groups of twenty birds each and six experimental diets were compounded and fed to the birds for seven weeks. Birds in treatment I (control) received basal diet I, containing neither lead acetate nor ascorbic acid, T2 received diet II with only 200mg lead acetate/kg feed without ascorbic acid, T3 received diet III, containing 200mg lead acetate and 50mg ascorbic acid/kg feed, T4 received diet IV, containing 200mg lead acetate and 100mg ascorbic acid/kg feed, T5 received diet V, containing 200mg lead acetate and 150mg ascorbic acid/kg feed and T6, received diet VI, containing 200mg lead acetate and 200mg ascorbic acid/kg feed. Finally, two birds per replicate were slaughtered and lead concentrations were analysed in the liver, kidney, bone and muscle by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Even with ascorbic acid supplementation, tissue lead concentrations in broiler chickens concomitantly exposed to lead was significantly (P < 0.05) increased. It was concluded that, supplementation with ascorbic acid at graded daily doses has no beneficial effect on lead toxicokinetics ad elimination in broiler.