The experiment evaluated the effects of Neorautanenia brachypus supplementation, alone or combined with a vitamin-mineral premix, on the lipid metabolism of broiler chickens. Experimental groups (E0, E1, E2, E3, and E4) received distinct dietary treatments: E0 (control), E1 (2g/kg N. brachypus powder in feed), E2 (vitamin-mineral premix only), E3 (2g/L N. brachypus powder in water + vitamin-mineral premix), and E4 (2g/kg N. brachypus powder in feed + vitamin-mineral premix). Broilers were maintained under uniform controlled husbandry conditions. Serum very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were analysed using standardised enzymatic colorimetric assay methods. Data were exposed to ANOVA in the General Linear Models procedure in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) vers. 9.4. The results showed that N. brachypus supplementation significantly reduced serum very low-density lipoprotein, low-density Lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and triglycerides levels, while significantly increasing high-density lipoprotein concentrations. The most pronounced effects (p < 0.05) were observed in groups E3 and E4, where N. brachypus was administered through drinking water and in feed combined with micronutrients, Neorautanenia brachypus supplementation significantly reduced harmful lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL) and triglycerides, while increasing high-density lipoprotein across all treatment groups. Reductions in total cholesterol and total glycerides were evident (p < 0.05) across all N. brachypus treated groups, regardless of the mode of administration or co-supplementation. The vitamin-mineral premix alone (E2) did not significantly impact lipid profiles relative to the control group (E0). Neorautanenia brachypus exhibited strong potential as a natural hypolipidemic feed additive for broiler chickens. Future research should focus on determining the optimal dosage across production phases, evaluating long-term physiological and health effects, as well as investigating possible interactions with other phytogenic or micronutrient additives to further enhance its lipid-modulating potential.
Musekiwa et al. (Mon,) studied this question.