Dietary Inclusion of Wheat Bran Arabinoxylooligosaccharides Induces Beneficial Nutritional Effects in Chickens

In vivo experiments were conducted to verify whether arabinoxylooligosaccharides (AXOS) obtained as low molecular mass compounds by enzymic hydrolysis from wheat bran arabinoxylan (AX) can exert nutritional effects. Two feeding trials were performed on chickens fed diets with either wheat or maize a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cereal chemistry 2008-09, Vol.85 (5), p.607-613
Main Authors: Courtin, Christophe M, Broekaert, Willem F, Swennen, Katrien, Lescroart, Olivier, Onagbesan, Okanlawon, Buyse, Johan, Decuypere, Eddy, Wiele, Tom Van de, Marzorati, Massimo, Verstraete, Willy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
animal nutrition
Animal productions
arabinoxylooligosaccharides
Bifidobacteriaceae
Biological and medical sciences
Cereal and baking product industries
chickens
corn
diet
dietary nutrient sources
feed additives
feed conversion
Food industries
fructooligosaccharides
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
nutritive value
oligosaccharides
poultry feeding
Terrestrial animal productions
Vertebrates
wheat
wheat bran
xylanases
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Summary:In vivo experiments were conducted to verify whether arabinoxylooligosaccharides (AXOS) obtained as low molecular mass compounds by enzymic hydrolysis from wheat bran arabinoxylan (AX) can exert nutritional effects. Two feeding trials were performed on chickens fed diets with either wheat or maize as the main component. Supplementation of bran AXOS at either 0.5% (w/w) to the wheat-based diet or at 0.25% (w/w) to the maize-based diet diets significantly (P < 0.05) improved the feed conversion rate without increasing the body weight of the animals, thus pointing to improved nutrient utilization efficiency. The positive effect of bran AXOS supplementation on feed utilization efficiency was similar to that obtained by adding an AX-degrading xylanase directly to the wheat-based diet. No significant effect on feed utilization efficiency was obtained with another type of nondigestible oligosaccharide such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS) derived from chicory roots. Bran AXOS significantly increased the level of bifidobacteria but not total bacteria in the caeca of the chickens, an effect not observed with either xylanase or FOS addition. These data suggest that bran AXOS have beneficial nutritional effects and may act as prebiotics.
ISSN:0009-0352
1943-3638
DOI:10.1094/cchem-85-5-0607