Effects of dietary vitamin E on fertility functions in poultry species.
Vitamin E is found in high quantities in vegetable oils. Although vitamin E has multiple functions in humans and animals, its key function is protecting cells from oxidative damage. Since its discovery, several studies have demonstrated that vitamin E deficiency causes impaired fertility in humans and lab animals. However, the effects of vitamin E deficiency or of its supplementation on the fertility of farm animals, particularly on poultry, are less well studied. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the effects of dietary vitamin E on the fertility of poultry species is needed in order to understand the beneficial role of vitamin E in the maintenance of sperm and egg qualities. Based on the observations reviewed here, we found that a moderate amount of vitamin E in poultry diet significantly protects semen/sperm qualities in male birds and egg qualities in female birds via decreasing the lipid peroxidation in semen/sperms and eggs. This review provides an overall understanding of the effects of dietary vitamin E on fertility functions in poultry species.
Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Korea. deivendran@cau.ac.kr.
Deivendran
D
Rengaraj
Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Korea. yhong@cau.ac.kr.
Yeong Ho
YH
Hong
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D011200:Poultry / Q000502:physiology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014810:Vitamin E