The Influence of a Dietary Beta-Fructan Supplement on Digestive Functions, Serum Glucose, and Yolk Lipid Content of Laying Hens

Abstract

When young, rapidly growing broiler birds are fed a diet supplemented with beta-fructans, there is increased activity of pancreatic amylase, but not lipase, and decreased accumulation of fat. The present study compared amylase and lipase activities in pancreatic tissue, rates of glucose and proline absorption by intact small intestine tissues, the amount of digested protein in the jejunum, amounts of abdominal and yolk fat, and serum glucose concentrations of mature laying hens (White Leghorn, 57 weeks of age) fed for 4 weeks a basal diet (control) with birds fed the same diet, but supplemented with either a short chain (oligofructose; Raftifeed PS; 1.0 %) or a long chain (inulin; Raftifeed PE; 1.3%) beta fructans. Higher serum glucose concentrations of birds fed diets with oligofructose and inulin (P< 0.05) corresponded with increased pancreatic amylase activity (P< 0.05), but without an increase in glucose transport. The prebiotic supplement increased the amount of digested protein in the jejunum contents (P< 0.05), but decreased pancreatic lipase activity and the amounts of abdominal and yolk fat (P< 0.05). These findings indicate supplementing the diet fed to mature laying hens with beta fructan prebiotics (oligofructose and inulin) alters digestion and metabolism.