Adverse effects in broiler chickens fed a high lycopene concentration supplemented diet

Pozzo, L., Tarantola, M., Biasibetti, E., Capucchio, M. T., Pagella, M., Mellia, E., Bergagna, S., Gennero, M. S., Strazzullo, G. and Schiavone, A. 2013. Adverse effects in broiler chickens fed a high lycopene concentration supplemented diet. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 231-241. The present investigation was designed to assess the effects of the administration of a high dietary lycopene dose to broiler chickens on growth and slaughter performances, haemato-biochemical parameters, antioxidant enzymes, histological lesions and lycopene accumulation in the tissues. Thirty-six 1-d-old male Hubbard broiler chicks were examined and divided randomly into two groups (three replicates for each dietary treatment): the Control group, which received a basal diet, and the Lycopene group, which received the basal diet supplemented with 500 mg lycopene kg-1 diet. The experimental period lasted 35 d and growth performance was recorded on a weekly basis. At the end of the experiment (day 35), blood samples (n=12) were collecte...