Search Results (8,019)

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the dietary effects of β-mannanase on growth performance, cecal ammonia concentration, lipid fraction contents and physiological responses in broiler chicks. A total of nine hundred 1 d old Ross male broiler chicks were assigned to six groups arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial of three levels of energy and CP [standard energy + standard CP (HEHP), 75 kcal/kg diet reduction in energy + standard CP (REHP), 75 kcal/kg diet reduction in energy + 1% reduction in CP (RERP)], with or without β-mannanase (0 or 0.05%). As dietary energy and CP decreased, growth performance also decreased. The growth and feed conversion ratio in chicks fed diets containing β-mannanase significantly improved. No significant differences were observed in the levels of serum enzymes and the relative weight and length of each fraction of small intestine among groups, except for the liver. The concentration of cecal ammonia in chicks fed diets containing β-mannanase was significantly lower than those of corresponding groups without β-mannanase. The levels of serum and hepatic lipid fractions were not influenced by supplementing β-mannanase to the diets. These results indicated that dietary β-mannanase may improve growth performance and utilization of dietary energy and protein in broiler chicks. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary PUFA supplementation on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, rumen morphology, ruminal fermentation, and rumen microbial communities in Hu sheep. Thirty healthy male Hu sheep (80 days old; 18.70 ± 0.72 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10/group) and fed a basal diet supplemented with 4% rumen-bypass palmitic acid fat powder (POS), 4% linseed oil (LO; rich in ω-3 PUFA), or 4% sunflower oil (SO; rich in ω-6 PUFA). PUFA supplementation did not affect average daily gain or rumen tissue morphology (p > 0.05), but it significantly reduced serum creatinine, uric acid, and high-density lipoprotein concentrations (p < 0.05). Orthogonal comparative analysis showed that supplementing with PUFA significantly reduced acetate and propionate, while increasing isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, and TVFAs (p < 0.05). The levels of propionate, butyrate and TVFAs in the SO group were higher than those in the LO group (p < 0.05), and the ratio of acetate to propionate was lower (p < 0.05). Supplementing with PUFA reshaped the rumen microbiota, increasing the relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Euryarchaeota, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteriota, while decreasing Proteobacteria and Desulfobacterota (p < 0.05). At the genus level, Prevotella and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were enriched in both groups with added PUFA, while Prevotellace-UCG-001 was specifically enriched in the LO group; in contrast, Prevotella_7, Succinivibriaceae_UCG-001, Prevotella_9, and Dialist all showed a decrease (p < 0.05). The alpha diversity increased, while the beta diversity showed significant differences between the group with added PUFA and the control group. Functionally, LO enriches carbohydrate and energy metabolism, while SO enriches nucleotide metabolism. In summary, linseed oil and sunflower oil improved serum indices and ruminal fermentation without impairing growth, but through distinct microbial and functional pathways. Full article

Ethanol is a pervasive chemical stressor in fermentative environments and represents a major ecological challenge for Drosophila melanogaster, a species that naturally inhabits decaying fruits. Although ethanol tolerance has traditionally been attributed to detoxification and antioxidant pathways, accumulating evidence indicates that immune-related genes, particularly those encoding immune deficiency (IMD) pathway-associated antimicrobial peptides (IMD-AMPs), contribute importantly to chemical stress adaptation. Previous studies have demonstrated that IMD-AMP induction is required for ethanol tolerance; however, whether elevated IMD-AMP expression alone is sufficient to enhance tolerance has remained unresolved. In this study, we investigated the functional significance of IMD-AMP upregulation in ethanol tolerance using dietary propolis as an experimental immune-modulating agent. D. melanogaster were reared throughout their life cycle on propolis-supplemented diets and subsequently exposed to ethanol. Propolis-fed flies exhibited significantly enhanced survival under ethanol stress compared with control flies. Notably, this increased tolerance was not accompanied by upregulation of classical ethanol metabolism genes or broad induction of antioxidant-related genes. Instead, propolis feeding increased baseline and early-stage expression of IMD-AMP genes, including Diptericin A (DptA), Diptericin B (DptB), Attacin (AttC), and Metchnikowin (Mtk) before and during ethanol exposure. These findings suggest IMD-AMP upregulation is positively associated with enhanced ethanol tolerance in D. melanogaster. Our results establish a proactive role for immune-related pathways in chemical stress resistance and extend the functional scope of AMPs beyond pathogen defense. This study identifies IMD-AMPs as key effectors linking immune activation to physiological adaptation under ethanol-induced chemical stress. Full article

Excessive glucocorticoids induced by stress trigger hepatic lipid metabolism disorder and oxidative stress in poultry, impairing growth performance and welfare. At the same time, resveratrol (RSV) has antioxidant and lipid-regulating properties, but the protective mechanisms in corticosterone (CORT)-challenged broilers remain unclear. This study investigated RSV’s effects on CORT-induced hepatic damage in AA broilers, with 240 one-day-old broilers randomized into three groups: control (basal diet), CORT (basal diet + 4 mg/kg BW CORT intraperitoneal injection), and RSV (400 mg/kg RSV-supplemented diet + CORT injection). Growth performance, hepatic redox status, serum biochemistry, liver histopathology, and gene/protein expression related to antioxidant/lipid metabolism were determined. The growth performance of AA broilers injected with CORT was significantly affected, showing reduced body weight gain (p < 0.05), increased abdominal fat content (p < 0.05), and hepatomegaly (p < 0.05). The addition of RSV in the diet significantly reduced abdominal fat accumulation and hepatomegaly (p < 0.05), improving the growth performance of broilers; Effects of RSV on liver function and lipid metabolism of CORT-treated AA broilers: After CORT injection, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and total bile acid (TBA) content significantly increased (p < 0.05). Hepatic total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) increased after CORT injection (p < 0.05), causing severe liver damage. RSV supplementation could reverse the increases in serum ALP, ALT, and AST activity (p < 0.05) and reduce TBA content in stressed broilers (p < 0.05). TC and TG levels in the liver decreased under the alleviation of RSV (p < 0.05), and serum TG levels declined (p < 0.05). Microscopic and ultrastructural observations showed that after CORT injection, hepatic tissue cells were swollen, scattered fat vacuoles were present, pores were enlarged, and intracellular lipid droplets appeared. The RSV group significantly alleviated hepatocyte damage, reduced vacuolation, showed uniform chromatin, and decreased lipid droplets. RSV significantly mitigated the CORT-induced increase in SREBP-1 mRNA and protein expression and the decrease in PPARα protein expression; CORT caused a decline in the antioxidant function of AA broiler livers, with significant decreases in SOD and GSH-PX (p < 0.05), and the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream genes also showed a decreasing trend. Compared to the CORT group, the RSV group exhibited significant increases in liver CAT, SOD, and GSH-PX (p < 0.05), and Nrf2 protein expression was elevated (p < 0.05). In summary, resveratrol can alleviate the decline in growth performance, liver steatosis, and hepatic oxidative stress in AA broilers induced by CORT, downregulate lipogenic genes such as SREBP-1c, regulate liver lipid metabolism, and mitigate CORT-induced hepatic oxidative stress in broilers by upregulating the Nrf2 pathway. Full article

This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of dietary glycerol monolaurate (GML) supplementation on the growth performance, bile acid metabolism, and intestinal health of Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus). A total of 225 healthy eels with an initial body weight of 25.0 ± 2.0 g were randomly divided into three groups and fed a basal diet (control), 0.5 g/kg GML, or 1.0 g/kg GML for 60 days, respectively. The results showed that dietary GML supplementation increased the weight gain rate by 8.75% and decreased the feed conversion ratio by 8.16% in the GML1 group compared with the control. Dietary GML significantly reduced the contents of TP and ALB (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the MDA content in the GML0.5 and GML1 groups decreased significantly by 24.80% and 38.15%, respectively. The contents of total bile acids and secondary bile acids were significantly elevated in the GML1 group (p < 0.05). In addition, GML supplementation optimized the intestinal microbial community and significantly reduced the relative abundance of potentially harmful bacteria such as Nocardia and Stenotrophomonas (p < 0.05). In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, dietary GML could effectively the improve growth performance, bile acid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of M. albus. Among the tested concentrations, 1.0 g/kg GML showed the optimal beneficial effects. Full article

A total of 192 weaned piglets (Topigs TN70), 26 days of age, with an initial body weight of 7.2 ± 0.5 kg, were used to determine the standardized ileal digestible (SID) histidine (His) to lysine (Lys) ratio required to maximize growth performance. Six dietary treatments with graded SID His to Lys ratios ranging from 0.2 to 0.38 were generated with the supplementation of L-His to a grain-based basal diet deficient in His. At the end of the trial (day 41 post weaning), 72 male piglets were euthanized for the analysis of histidine-containing dipeptides, particularly carnosine, in the M. longissimus dorsi. In addition, blood samples were collected from 72 piglets to determine plasma urea-nitrogen and hematological parameters. Piglets fed low dietary His (SID His to Lys < 0.27) exhibited hemoglobin concentrations below the reference value, indicating anemia. Muscle carnosine content increased linearly with increasing dietary His and did not reach a plateau within the tested range. Based on growth performance responses, the SID His to Lys ratio required to achieve maximum growth performance in fast-growing piglets is 0.34. These findings emphasize the importance of supervising the SID His to Lys ratio, particularly in practical piglet feed formulations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Glutathione (GSH) is a fundamental tripeptide essential for maintaining cellular redox homeostasis, detoxification, and immune regulation. While GSH is synthesized endogenously, its levels typically decline with age, potentially increasing susceptibility to oxidative stress-related conditions. This review aims to discuss the benefits of GSH for the body and clarify the distinctions between dietary intake, endogenous synthesis, and supplementation as strategies for maintaining optimal GSH levels. Results: All studies show that GSH is a powerful antioxidant that plays a crucial role in maintaining various physiological processes in the body. It offers several benefits, primarily through its antioxidant properties and involvement in detoxification and immune regulation. This effect has potential implications for various health conditions associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders. Whether through diet or supplementation, ensuring adequate GSH levels can have profound benefits on longevity, immunity, and overall well-being. There are many foods known to contain GSH, and there are also many GSH supplements available on the market, but precursor-based supplements and compounds that activate GSH synthesis pathways show stronger and more consistent increases in human GSH. A diet rich in protein (for amino acids) and phytochemical-dense plants can support this, while targeted precursors (e.g., glycine, γ-glutamylcysteine) and Nrf2-activating foods or agents provide the most robust increases shown so far. Such supplementation can be beneficial, and it is most effective when combined with a diet rich in sulfur-containing foods and other nutrients that support GSH synthesis. Full article

To sustain egg production and gut health in aging flocks, the poultry industry seeks alternative synbiotic feed supplements. This study aimed to optimize Pediococcus acidilactici V202-fermented rice bran (PFR) and evaluate its effects on nutrient digestibility and cecal microbial populations in aged laying hens. In experiment 1, solid-state fermentation conditions (substrate particle size, moisture, and temperature) were optimized for viable lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts. In experiment 2, in vitro assays were used to assess cecal fermentation kinetics. Subsequently, an in vivo trial involving twenty 80-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens evaluated the impact of PFR supplementation on nutrient digestibility and microbial profiles compared to a control diet. For experiment 1, the optimized fermentation conditions consisted of 40-mesh rice bran, a 30:70 bran-to-water ratio, incubation at 39 °C for 12 h, and drying at 40 °C, which produced the highest viable LAB counts. For experiment 2, PFR enhanced in vitro cumulative cecal gas production. In vivo, compared to the control, PFR supplementation significantly increased the apparent digestibility of dry matter (82.69% vs. 77.03%; p = 0.014), crude protein (82.75% vs. 75.38%; p = 0.016), crude fiber (36.30% vs. 23.10%; p = 0.015), ether extract (86.70% vs. 82.91%; p = 0.016), and gross energy (78.31% vs. 74.99%; p = 0.026). Furthermore, PFR beneficially modulated cecal microbial populations, increasing LAB while reducing Salmonella spp. In conclusion, these findings suggest that optimized PFR could be a promising synbiotic supplement to improve digestive efficiency and support beneficial cecal microbial populations in aged laying hens. Full article

Salvia sclarea L. extract contains various bioactive components such as flavonoids and fatty acids, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Salvia sclarea L. extract on the gut microbiota and serum metabolome in lambs. Sixty 2-month-old Chinese Merino female lambs (body weight 20 ± 2 kg) were randomly assigned to five groups. The control (CK) group received the basal diet only, while the treatment groups received the basal diet supplemented with 0.04 mL/kg (CL1), 0.08 mL/kg (CL2), 0.12 mL/kg (CL3), and 0.16 mL/kg (CL4) of Salvia sclarea L. extract, respectively. The results showed that Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, and Proteobacteria were identified as the dominant phyla across all groups (>90%). Compared with the CK group, CL1 and CL2 groups significantly reduced the relative abundance of Tenericutes (decreased by 38.2% and 32.9%, respectively, p < 0.05); the relative abundance of Patescibacteria in the CL1 group was significantly lower (decreased by 55.2%, p < 0.05). At the genus level, Ruminococcaceae constituted a substantial proportion, including Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, UCG-010, UCG-014, and NK4A214 group. STAMP analysis revealed that Klebsiella was significantly enriched in CL2, CL3, and CL4 groups compared to the CK group (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis between microbiota and immune indices showed that Christensenellaceae R-7 group was significantly negatively correlated with TNF-α (p < 0.05); Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 was significantly negatively correlated with IFN-γ (p < 0.05) and showed a negative correlation trend with immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM). Conversely, Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 was significantly positively correlated with IL-4 (p < 0.05) but showed a negative correlation trend with IgM. Untargeted metabolomics analysis identified 8, 18, 25, and 20 differential metabolites in CL1, CL2, CL3, and CL4 groups, respectively. Notably, 3-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone and Gamma-Glu-Cys were significantly upregulated across all treatment groups. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these differential metabolites were primarily involved in nucleotide metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and oxidative stress-related pathways. Further Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant associations between gut microbiota and differential metabolites. Specifically, g_Klebsiella was significantly positively correlated with 3-Hydroxycapric acid and 3-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Salvia sclarea L. extract modulates host energy metabolism by regulating nucleotide metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis, and enhances immune function by alleviating oxidative stress, through the remodeling of gut microbiota and serum metabolome. Full article

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent global health concern. Although pharmacotherapies such as Resmetirom and semaglutide have recently gained approval by FDA/EMEA, therapeutic options remain limited, necessitating the exploration of novel natural compounds. Our previous research indicated that lycopene exerts protective effects against MASLD; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The present study aimed to investigate whether lycopene alleviates MASLD by modulating mitophagy, with a focus on the PINK1/Parkin pathway. C57BL/6J mice were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce MASLD and daily gavage of lycopene (10/40 mg/kg). In vitro, AML12 cells were treated with lycopene and Mdivi-1 to assess the role of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy against lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The results found that lycopene supplementation significantly ameliorated HFD-induced weight gain, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, pathological liver injury, and elevated serum liver enzymes. It reduced hepatic reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and suppressed the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as evidenced by decreased cytochrome c release and caspase cascade activation. Concurrently, lycopene restored ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential, improved ultrastructural integrity, and balanced mitochondrial dynamics by downregulating DRP1 and upregulating MFN2 and OPA1. Crucially, lycopene activated PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, leading to an increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and Beclin1 expression, alongside decreased levels of mitochondrial proteins TOM20 and COX IV. In vitro, the lycopene partially reversed the exacerbating effects of Mdivi-1 on lipid accumulation, ROS generation, apoptosis, and the suppression of the PINK1/Parkin pathway. Collectively, lycopene ameliorates MASLD by activating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and improving mitochondrial homeostasis, thereby reducing hepatic lipid accumulation and attenuating hepatocyte apoptosis. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Allium mongolicum Regel essential oil (AMO) supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and muscle amino acid profile in finishing lambs. A total of twenty male Dorper × Han crossbred lambs (body weight = 32.5 ± 2.5 kg, 4–4.5 months old) were randomly allocated into two dietary treatments (n = 10 per group): a control group fed a basal diet (roughage to concentrate ratio of 45:55) or an AMO group supplemented with 56 mg/d of AMO per lamb. The trial consisted of a 15-day adaptation period followed by a 60-day experimental period. At the end of the trial, six lambs were randomly selected from each group for slaughter. Samples of the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle were collected to determine meat quality traits, proximate composition, and amino acid profiles. Supplementation increased average daily gain by 6.6% and improved feed conversion ratio by 4.6% (p < 0.05), whereas feed intake and final body weight were not affected (p > 0.05). In LT, GR tissue depth and loin muscle area were increased (p < 0.05). Drip loss was reduced (p < 0.05), whereas proximate composition, cooking loss, and shear force remained unchanged (p > 0.05). The hydrolyzed amino acid composition and protein nutritional value of LT were not affected (p > 0.05). However, total free amino acid (FAA), total essential FAA, and the concentrations of free leucine, isoleucine, lysine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, and cysteine were increased by supplementation (p < 0.05). Moreover, flavor-related FAA, including umami-, sweet-, and bitter/sweet/sulfurous-related FAA were also increased by supplementation (p < 0.05). These results indicate that AMO improves growth efficiency and enhances LT meat quality, particularly by increasing flavor-related FAA, without altering protein nutritional characteristics. Full article

N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) is a structural analog of N-acetylglutamate and has multifunctional roles in animal production. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of NCG on protein digestive function and muscle growth in broiler chickens. This study investigated whether NCG could improve muscle growth via protein digestive ability and amino acid metabolism in broiler chickens. A total of 144 one-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly allocated to four treatments with six replicates of 6 broiler chickens each. The treatments were a basal diet and a basal diet with NCG supplementation at three graded levels (150 g/t, 300 g/t, and 450 g/t of NCG). The results showed that NCG supplementation significantly improved the average daily weight gain (ADG) and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and increased the weight of leg muscle and breast muscle. Furthermore, NCG supplementation significantly increased protein digestibility, the activities of amylase, trypsin and lipase, and villus height in the ileum (p < 0.05), which demonstrated that digestibility and absorption were improved by NCG in broiler chickens. Analysis of plasma amino acids, hormone levels and the gene expression of breast muscle revealed that NCG increased the concentration of GABA, glutamate, glutamine, leucine, threonine, valine, branched-chain amino acids and essential amino acids and the levels of testosterone and IGF-1 in plasma (p < 0.05). Additionally, NCG increased the expression of mTOR and P70S6K in breast muscle tissue. Therefore, NCG supplementation could be an important nutritional strategy to improve product performance, muscle growth and development, and meat yield. The 300 g/t supplementation level was found to be the practical optimum dose, as it produced effects comparable to the highest dose (450 g/t) on most parameters while offering better cost-effectiveness. This study provides new insights into the application of NCG for meat production improvement in broiler chickens. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary Elionurus muticus essential oil (EMEO) on growth performance, physiological responses, and resistance to car transport stress in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish were fed experimental diets for 60 days and subsequently subjected to 6 h of transport stress. Five diets were tested: 0.00 (control), 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 1.50 mL EMEO kg⁻¹, in triplicate (10 fish per 500 L tank; stocking density 0.4 kg L⁻¹). Citral was the major EMEO compound (73.91%). Increasing dietary EMEO levels improved growth performance and reduced the feed conversion ratio. Before transport, EMEO supplementation increased erythrocyte counts and plasma glucose levels, while reducing hematocrit and hepatic aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity (p < 0.05). After transport, plasma glucose, hematocrit, and hepatic AST values decreased, whereas hepatic glycogen and hemoglobin levels increased with higher EMEO inclusion (p < 0.05). Also, post-transport, EMEO-fed fish showed enhanced intestinal digestive enzyme activity (lipase and amylase) and antioxidant capacity (superoxide dismutase and ferric reducing antioxidant power) but increased protein carbonyl levels. Lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) was reduced at intermediate EMEO levels (p < 0.05). Histological analyses indicated no tissue damage and suggested improved liver and intestinal function with increasing EMEO inclusion. Overall, dietary supplementation with 1.00 mL EMEO kg⁻¹ is recommended to enhance growth performance and metabolic adjustment and to improve physiological status to withstand transport stress in Nile tilapia. Full article

Histamine is a significant risk factor in brown fishmeal and negatively affects histamine-sensitive fish species. The present study aimed to explore the potential protective effects of dietary sanguinarine supplementation against the adverse impacts of excessive dietary histamine on growth and intestinal and hepatic health in American eels. Four experimental diets were formulated: the basal diet (control diet), the basal diet supplemented with 500 mg kg⁻¹ of histamine (HH diet), and the HH diet supplemented with 100 mg kg⁻¹ and 200 mg kg⁻¹ of sanguinarine (HH+SAN100 and HH+SAN200 diets, respectively). After a 10-week feeding trial, both sanguinarine supplementation diets alleviated HH-diet-induced growth retardation, reduced feed utilization, serum dyslipidemia, and hepatic and intestinal structural damage; decreased hepatic and intestinal antioxidant capacity; increased intestinal and hepatic malondialdehyde levels; inhibited intestinal lipase activities; elevated intestinal pro-inflammatory-related gene abundance; and lowered intestinal anti-inflammatory-related gene expression. Furthermore, the HH+SAN100 diet partially ameliorated HH-diet-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal metabolic disturbances. Collectively, these findings identify sanguinarine as a functional dietary additive that mitigates histamine-associated growth suppression and intestinal and hepatic injury in American eels, promoting the sustainable utilization of brown fishmeal in American eel culture. Full article

Growing concern over antibiotic resistance in poultry production has increased interest in natural feed additives such as Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom)-derived products. This study evaluated three freeze-dried oyster mushroom powders: total fresh fruiting body (OMP-TF), cooked solid residue (OMP-CSR), and cooked liquid fraction (OMP-CL), as dietary supplements in male Coturnix japonica. A β-glucan positive control and basal diet negative control were included. Birds (1-day-old) were fed experimental diets from 1 to 28 days. An Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge was applied 12 h before sampling to induce an immune system activity. Growth performance, immune system activity, spleen relative weight, ileum morphometry, and antioxidant capacity were then evaluated to determine the effects of the experimental diets. Mushroom supplementation significantly modulated body weight during weeks 2–3 and overall weight gain, with OMP-TF maintaining higher body weight at week 4. Relative spleen weight, villus morphometry, cytokine responses (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4), and total antioxidant capacity were not significantly altered compared with LPS controls. Overall, P. ostreatus supplementation modulated growth performance under inflammatory challenge conditions, without significantly affecting the measured immune or intestinal parameters. These findings suggest a potential role of mushroom-derived products as growth-supporting feed additives; however, further studies are needed to clarify their effects on immune function and intestinal health. Full article