Effect of Nutrition on Hepatic Health

Within the digestive system, the liver is the primary organ for nutrient transformation and distribution, as well as the elimination and excretion of metabolites. The quality of nutrition has a direct impact on liver health, as the liver performs vital functions. A balanced diet supports liver function and prevents diseases. In contrast, imbalanced or contaminated diets can damage the liver, increasing the risk of diseases.

In swine, the piglet is adapted to dairy nutrients, which are highly digestible, such as short-chain lipids, during the first few weeks. After weaning and during the following 8 weeks, it is necessary to promote digestibility until digestive maturity is reached.

In starter diets, it is important to work with digestible fats (short-chain or polyunsaturated fats) and later use fats with lower digestibility, supported by emulsifiers (Medel, P et al. FEDNA, 1999).

In poultry, genetic improvement accelerates growth, requiring optimal nutrition in terms of quality and digestibility during the first week of life, to enhance their development.

Chicks (Chávez, López, and Parra, 2016), from day 1st to day 10th of age, the use of highly digestible energy and protein are essential. During the first 2 days, the yolk (Noy and Sklan, 1998) is the main energy source, consisting of 66% triglycerides (38% saturated fatty acids, 62% unsaturated fatty acids), and 28% phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine). Later, the absorption of dietary lipids is low due to digestive immaturity, making it advisable to:

The liver should be protected from challenges that could damage it (pathogens, toxins, stress, etc.). Phytobiotics can reduce liver damage. In chickens challenged between 16 and 22 days of age, the use of phytobiotics (Carvajal et al., 2022 UDES) reduced inflammation and liver markers (AST and ALT). At 42 days, performance improved (weight, feed conversion, and efficiency).

The use of mycotoxin detoxifiers (FPA) in chicks (0-21 days) challenged with trichothecenes, helps to recover from liver and digestive damage, restoring the poultry's growth.

Liver development in laying pullets will determine the performance. The growth relationship between the liver and the poullet is very high during the first 3 weeks of life and remains high until week 7.

The lay of eggs requires 6 g/protein and 6 g/fat per day. The yolk fat is synthesized by the liver from energy. A good bird development, along with direct fat inclusion in the diet, reduces the hepatic effort and its synthesis from carbohydrates.

In poultry and swine, using fat sources with a profile like that synthesized by the liver improves fat utilization efficiency. The cost of converting carbohydrates or oils into fat is lower than converting one type of fat into another.

There are multiple factors in the feed that can put liver health at risk.

  - Deficiencies – choline, vitamins, amino acids, minerals

 - Formulation: essential amino acids (methionine), energy balance (carbohydrates: lipids 3-4:1), protein balance (energy:protein), essential fatty acids (linoleic), ω-6:ω-3 ratio (5:1).