Histological and biochemical evaluation of supplementing broiler diet with β-hydroxy-methyl butyrate calcium (β-HMB-Ca)

Abstract

Two hundred and sixteen day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were allocated into 4 groups to study the impacts of different concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2%) of β-hydroxy-methyl butyrate calcium (β-HMB-Ca), on values of tri-iodothyronin (T3) and tetra-iodothyronin (T4) hormones, liver enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)], uric acid, peroxide, malondialdihyde (MDA), fatty acids and some histological parameters of small intestine (thickness of mucosa, height of villi, thickness of villi, depth of epithelial crypts and epithelial height). The biochemical results did not show any significant effect on T3 and T4 hormones and ALT while there was significant (P