title: Betaine: a promising antioxidant agent for enhancement of broiler meat quality.
abstract: 1. Antioxidant and methyl donor effects of betaine in experimental animal models have recently been demonstrated. The present study was therefore designed to examine the antioxidant effects of betaine on the antioxidant status and meat quality of breast muscles in broilers. 2. Cobb broilers were randomly divided into Control, Methionine low, Methionine low plus betaine, and Betaine groups. 3. The activity of the main antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase) in the Betaine and the Methionine low plus betaine groups significantly increased compared to the Methionine low and Control groups. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly higher in the Betaine group compared to the Methionine low group, and lipid peroxidation was significantly higher in the Control and the Methionine low groups. 4. The present study indicates that adding betaine (1 g/kg) to a diet deficient in methionine can significantly improve antioxidant defences and meat quality, decreasing lipid peroxidation in the breast muscles of broiler chickens.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine-Lorestan University, P.O. Box: 465, Khorram Abad, Iran. alirezaei_m54@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alirezaei
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reza Gheisari
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reza Ranjbar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hajibemani
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001622:Betaine; D008715:Methionine; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase