Dietary protein from fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM), widely used in poultry diets in
China, had regulating effects on lipid metabolism. To understand the effects of FCSM on lipid metabolism
in broilers, we analyzed the biochemical indexes, enzyme activity, hormone level and metabolites
in serum responses to FCSM intake. One hundred and eighty 21-d-old Chinese yellow feathered broilers
(536.07±4.43 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 replicates and 3 diets with 6 % supplementation
of unfermented CSM (control group), FCSM by C. Tropicalis (Ct CSM) or C. tropicalis
plus S. Cerevisae (Ct-Sc CSM). Result showed that: (1) FCSM intake decreased significantly the content
of triglyceride (TAG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)
(P<0.05) in serum; (2) FCSM intake could significantly increase enzyme activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase
(ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and hormone sensitive lipase
(HSL) (P<0.05); (3) Ct-Sc CSM intake increased significantly the levels of adiponectin (ADP)
(P<0.05); (4) FCSM intake caused significant metabolic changes involving glycolysis, TCA cycle,
synthesis of fatty acid and glycogen, and metabolism of glycerolipid, vitamins B group and amino
acids. Our results strongly suggested that FCSM intake could significantly affect lipid metabolism via
multiple pathways. These findings provided new essential information about the effect of FCSM on
broilers and demonstrated the great potential of nutrimetabolomics, through which the research complex
nutrients are included in animal diet.
Fermented cottonseed meal improves production performance and reduces fat deposition in broilers chicken