EFFECT OF SELECTED DIETARY ANTIOXIDANTS ON FATTY LIVER HEMORRHAGIC SYNDROME IN LAYING HENS

1. Single comb White Leghorn hens of an inbred line highly susceptible to fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) were fed supplemented die tary ascorbic acid (200 mg/kg), alpha-tocopherol (75 mg/kg), or L-cyst eine (3 g/kg, and 6 g/kg) for 28 d in order to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of these compounds against the disease. 2. Suppleme ntation of ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, or a low level of L-cystei ne (3 g/kg) did not significantly affect any of the hepatic variables evaluated. Hepatic glutathione was not increased by the supplementatio n of dietary L-cysteine. 3. L-cysteine supplemented at a level of 6 g/ kg decreased hepatic dry matter and fat contents without affecting the hepatic malondialdehyde or the liver haemorrhagic score. 4. Because o ne of the predisposing factors of FLHS is a high hepatic fat content i t was concluded that dietary supplementation of L-cysteine (6 g/kg) ma y be useful in the prevention of the disease.