Emmanuel Nuamah

Early post-hatch feeding strategies supplementing nutrients, particularly functional amino acids, have been proposed to enhance gastrointestinal tract (GIT) maturation and health in broilers in the post-antibiotic era. However, reported effects on performance and gut morphology remain inconsistent. Hence, this meta-analysis synthesized and clarified the efficacy pattern of supplemental FAA (Arg, Gln, Gly) evidence on growth performance, gut morphology, and lymphoid organ development. From a search spanning 2015 to September 2025, data were extracted from 23 eligible studies among 582 reports identified and pooled from five online databases. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated using Hedges’ g estimator with 95% confidence intervals, and heterogeneity was explored using subgroup and meta-regression procedures. Internal validity and reliability of included studies and publication bias were also assessed. The random-effects meta-analyses revealed that the FAA increased BWG (SMD = 1.01; p = 0.0006) and reduced feed conversion ratio (SMD = −0.45; p < 0.0001). Likewise, they enhanced intestinal architecture in both the jejunum and ileum. This was characterized by increased villus height (p < 0.05), reduced crypt depth (p < 0.05), and an elevated villus-to-crypt ratio (p < 0.0001), with the ileum exhibiting the greatest morphological response. In contrast, supplementation had no significant effect on spleen weight (SMD = 0.24; p = 0.2483) or bursa weight (SMD = 0.31; p = 0.1575). These effects, however, can be influenced by dosage used, dietary crude protein level, and broiler strain. In addition to enhancing the small intestine morphology early on, longer supplementation increased feed efficiency. Specifically, L-arginine and glycine efficaciously stimulated BWG, while L-glutamine and L-arginine enhanced morphology. Overall, early dietary supplementation with arginine, glutamine, or glycine is an effective post-antibiotic nutritional strategy to alleviate early post-hatch physiological stress and support broiler growth and intestinal development. However, to optimize nutrient utilization and sustain growth performance comparable to that achieved with standard CP diets, these FAAs in practical broiler nutrition should be strategically integrated into low-CP formulations.

Background: The consumption of deed-fried foods has been a topic of considerable debate in nutritional science due to its potential adverse effects on health. In this context, the method of coating deep-fried chicken breasts has garnered increasing attention. Aims: This study aimed to provide valuable insights into the effects of alternative plant-based coatings on the physicochemical and nutritional properties of deep-fried chicken breast, with the broader objective of promoting healthier food options for consumers. Materials and Methods: Pre-weighed, marinated chicken breast chunks were immersed in treatment batter made from various edible flour coatings, including wheat, sweet potato, cassava, and cocoyam. The samples were refrigerated and subsequently deep-fried. The fried products were analyzed for proximate and mineral composition, while breaded samples were examined for physicochemical properties. Results: While coating did not affect the coating yield, it significantly increased frying yield (p < 0.0001) and pH (p = 0.0105). However, edible coatings did not significantly influence the lightness (p = 0.1481), redness (p = 0.3596), or yellowness (p = 0.6852) of the meat. Among proximate components, crude fiber and energy levels remained unchanged, but other parameters varied significantly across treatments (p < 0.05). Likewise, most mineral parameters, except magnesium, exhibited significant differences among coatings (p < 0.05). Notably, sweet potato coatings enhanced the physicochemical and proximate attributes more effectively than the other coatings, while cocoyam coatings yielded superior mineral composition compared to wheat flour. Conclusion: Alternative plant-based coatings significantly influenced the physicochemical properties, nutrient composition, and mineral content of deep-fried chicken breasts. These findings suggest that utilizing such coatings could result in healthier fried chicken products. Further research is necessary to optimize these coatings for enhanced consumer acceptability and to support their integration into healthier dietary options. Keywords: Frying medium, frying yield, meat color, mineral content, wheat flour substitutes.

Background: Using wheat flour coating food to reduce oil absorption during frying has been explored, but many alternatives exist. Aims: This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of polysaccharide coatings on the physicochemical and nutritional composition of deep-fried chicken breast. Materials and Methods: Pre-weighed marinated cut chunks of breast muscle were immersed in a treatment batter slurry of edible flour coatings (wheat, sweet potato, cassava, and cocoyam), refrigerated, and deep-fried. The deep-fried meats were analyzed for their proximate and mineral contents, whereas breaded meats were examined for their physicochemical properties. Results: Coating did not influence the coating yield but significantly (p<0.0001) increased frying yield and pH (p = 0.0105). Nonetheless, edible coatings had no significant impact on meat lightness (p = 0.1481), redness (p = 0.3596), and yellowness (p = 0.6852). In addition, with crude fiber and energy, which did not vary, the value of deep-fried breast muscle’s proximate composition differed significantly among treatments (p<0.05). Likewise, all mineral parameters analyzed, except magnesium, varied among treatments (p<0.05). Notably, sweet potato markedly improved physicochemical and proximate attributes among the coating materials, whereas cocoyam provided a better mineral composition than wheat flour. Conclusion: Alternative edible coatings significantly impacted deep-fried chicken breast’s physicochemical properties and nutrient and mineral composition. These findings suggest that alternative coatings can produce healthier chicken products. However, further research on their color is needed for better product acceptability.

The inclusion of exogenous phytase in P- and Ca-deficient diets of broilers to address the growing concern about excessive P excretion into the environment over the years has been remarkably documented. However, responses among these studies have been inconsistent because of the several factors affecting P utilization. For this reason, a systematic review with a meta-analysis of results from forty-one studies published from 2000 to February 2024 was evaluated to achieve the following: (1) quantitatively summarize the size of phytase effect on growth performance, bone strength and mineralization in broilers fed diets deficient in P and Ca and (2) estimate and explore the heterogeneity in the effect size of outcomes using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s SYRCLE risk of bias checklists for animal studies. Applying the random effects models, Hedges’ g effect size of supplemented phytase was calculated using the R software (version 4.3.3, Angel Food Cake) to determine the standardized mean difference (SMD) at a 95% confidence interval. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used to further explore the effect size heterogeneity (P_SMD ≤ 0.05, I² > 50%, n ≥ 10). The meta-analysis showed that supplemental phytase increases ADFI and BWG and improves FCR at each time point of growth (p < 0.0001). Additionally, phytase supplementation consistently increased tibia ash, P and Ca, and bone strength (p < 0.0001) of broilers fed P- and Ca-deficient diets. The results of the subgroup and meta-regression analyses showed that the age and strain of broiler, dietary P source, and the duration of phytase exposure significantly influence the effect size of phytase on growth and bone parameters. In conclusion, phytase can attenuate the effect of reducing dietary-available phosphorus and calcium and improve ADFI, BWG, and FCR, especially when added to starter diets. It further enhances bone ash, bone mineralization, and the bone-breaking strength of broilers, even though the effects of bone ash and strength can be maximized in the starter phase of growth. However, the effect sizes of phytase were related to the age and strain of the broiler, dietary P source, and the duration of phytase exposure rather than the dosage.

The inclusion of exogenous phytase in broiler P and Ca deficient diets in response to heightened concerns over excessive P excretion into the environment over the years has remarkably been documented. However, responses among these studies have been inconsistent because of the several factors affecting P utilization. For this reason, a systematic review with meta-analysis of results from forty-one studies published from 2000 to February 2024 was evaluated to: 1) quantitatively summarize the size of phytase effect on growth performance, bone strength, and mineralization in broilers fed P and Ca deficient basal diets and 2) estimate and explore the heterogeneity of the effect sizes of outcomes using sub-group and meta-regression analyses. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s SYRCLE Risk of Bias checklists for animal studies. Additionally, applying the random-effects models, Hedges’ g effect size of supplementation with phytase was calculated using the R software to determine the standardized mean difference (SMD) at a 95% confidence interval. Sub-group analysis and meta-regression further explored heterogeneity (P_SMD ≤ 0.05, I² > 50%, n ≥ 10). The meta-analysis showed that supplemental phytase increases ADFI and BWG and reduces FCR at each time point of growth (< 0.0001). Additionally, phytase supplementation consistently increased tibia ash, P and Ca, and bone strength (< 0.0001) of broilers fed P and Ca deficient diets. Results of the subgroup and meta-regression analyses showed that age and strain of broiler, dietary P source, and duration of phytase exposure significantly influence the effect size of phytase on growth and bone parameters. In conclusion, phytase can attenuate the effect of reducing dietary available phosphorus and calcium and improve ADFI, BWG, and reduced FCR, especially when added to starter diets. It further enhances bone ash, bone mineralization, and bone-breaking strength of broilers, even though the effects of bone ash and strength can be maximized in the starter phase of growth. However, the effect sizes of phytase were related to the age and strain of the broiler, dietary P source, and duration of phytase exposure rather than the dosage.

INPLASY202440096 Unlocking Phytate with Phytase: A Meta-Analytic View of Meat-type Chicken Muscle Growth and Bone Mineralization Potential Keywords: Growth performance; Broilers; Exogenous enzyme; …

In recent years, the swine industry has witnessed the withdrawal of antibiotics and continuous regulation of zinc and copper oxides in the early-life nutrition of piglets. Due to this development, alternative additives from plant sources have been extensively explored. Therefore, this study’s objective was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with tannins on weaned piglets’ growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, and serum immune status using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. A total of 16 studies with parameters of interest were deemed eligible after a two-step screening process following a comprehensive literature search in the scientific databases of Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria were mainly (1) studies involving basal diet supplemented with tannins and (2) studies with the quantification of tannin doses, while the exclusion criteria were (1) studies with pre- and post-weaning pigs and (2) challenged studies. Applying the random-effects models, Hedges’ g effect size of supplementation with tannins was calculated using R software to determine the standardized mean difference (SMD) at a 95% confidence interval. Sub-group analysis and meta-regression further explored heterogeneity (P_SMD < 0.05, I² > 50%, n ≥ 10). Supplementation with tannins reduced the feed conversion ratio (p < 0.01) but increased the final body weight (p < 0.01) of weaned piglets. Chestnut and grape seed proanthocyanidin tannin sources yielded higher effects on growth performance. In addition, meta-regression models indicated that tannin dosage and supplementation duration were directly associated with tannins’ effectiveness on productive performance. In the serum, the concentration of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity were elevated (p < 0.01) in response to tannin supplementation, whereas malondialdehydes was reduced (p < 0.01). Likewise, increased immunoglobin M and G levels (p < 0.01) were detected. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with tannins, particularly with chestnut and grape seed proanthocyanidins, increases the productivity of weaned piglets. At the same time, it is a possible nutritional strategy to mitigate oxidative stress and stimulate gut health. Thus, supplementing chestnut and grape seed proanthocyanidin tannins in the early phase of swine production could be used to alleviate the incidence of diarrhea.