Effects of 1-Deoxynojirimycin-Enriched Mulberry Extract on Liver and Gut Health in Broilers Under a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

In broiler farming, high-fat (HF) diets are frequently incorporated, often leading to hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and gut damage. 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) has emerged as a promising feed additive in animal husbandry due to its significant role in enhancing animal health. This study assessed the protective effects of DNJ-enriched mulberry extract (DNJ) on liver and gut health in broilers subjected to an HF diet, with particular emphasis on the liver-gut interaction. A total of 360 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were initially raised on a basal diet for 20 days, after which they were assigned to one of three dietary treatments from days 21 to 42: a control diet (CON), an HF diet, and an HF diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg DNJ (HF + DNJ). By day 42, broilers on the HF diet exhibited increased body weight, feed intake, and body weight gain, alongside reduced feed conversion efficiency. In contrast, DNJ supplementation reduced body weight without affecting feed intake in the HF diet group. It lowered liver T-CHO and LDL-C levels, increased SOD and CAT activities, and decreased MDA. Histological analyses showed that DNJ preserved intestinal mucosal structure and epithelial tight junctions. DNJ supplementation enriched microbes like Actinobacteriota and Baceroidota and reversed the HF-induced Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio. Furthermore, Bifidobacterium pullorum and Bacteroidota were positively correlated with antioxidant markers. In conclusion, dietary DNJ-enriched mulberry extract serves as an effective functional feed substance that mitigates HF-induced metabolic syndromes in broilers by balancing lipid metabolism, enhancing antioxidant defenses, safeguarding intestinal barrier integrity, and restoring healthy microbial community structures along the liver-gut axis.