egg-white and Liver-Diseases

Two hundred fifty-six 18-wk-old Shaver White and ISA-Brown pullets were fed commercial diets containing either 0 or 10% flaxseed in order to study the long-term effects of feeding flaxseed on hen performance and egg production parameters. Performance was monitored over 10 consecutive 28-d periods. Flaxseed was introduced gradually at 28 wk of age and was maintained until hens were 53 wk of age, when flaxseed was gradually eliminated from the diet. Feed intake was less (P < 0.05) for hens fed flaxseed compared to those consuming the control diet. Flax-fed hens were also lighter (P < 0.05) compared to the control birds. Egg production, egg weight, shell weight, albumen height, and shell thickness were not significantly (P > 0.05) different for hens consuming 0 and 10% flaxseed; however, yolk weight was reduced (P < 0.05) in hens fed flaxseed. Both strains of birds fed flaxseed deposited significantly more n-3 fatty acids into their eggs. Sampling of livers at the end of the trial showed that hens fed flaxseed had a higher (P < 0.05) incidence of liver hemorrhages.

Topics: Aging; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Body Weight; Chickens; Diet; Egg Shell; Egg White; Egg Yolk; Eggs; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Female; Flax; Hemorrhage; Liver Diseases; Oviposition; Poultry Diseases; Species Specificity

The possession of the histocompatibility antigen HL-A8 has been correlated with serum levels of antibodies to gluten and a variety of other dietary, viral, and bacterial antigens and autoantigens. The only significant correlation with HL-A8 was of raised levels of gluten antibody. Thus it seems that HL-A8 may be associated with an enhanced immune response specifically to gluten, and not with a generally enhanced immunological responsiveness as has been suggested.

Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Antigens; Chronic Disease; Egg White; Glutens; Histocompatibility Antigens; HLA Antigens; Humans; Liver Diseases; Milk