Comparative effects of dietary sodium butyrate and tributyrin on broiler chickens' performance, gene expression, intestinal histomorphometry, blood indices, and litter.
This controlled animal trial investigated the comparative effects of three butyrate-based dietary supplements — tributyrin with copper and essential oils (TB-500), di- and tri-butyrin (TB-300), and coated sodium butyrate (SB-500) — versus a control diet in 1,000 Arbor Acres broiler chicks across four treatment groups (250 birds each, six replicates). Over 35 days, researchers measured growth performance, carcass traits, serum biochemistry, immune markers, gene expression (mTOR, TLR4, NBN), intestinal histomorphometry, caecal microbiota, and litter hygiene. The study found that TB-300 was associated with improved body weight (+4.6%), feed conversion ratio (–5.2%), and European Production Efficiency Factor (+14.9%). SB-500 was linked to reduced litter Clostridia and aerobic bacterial counts. All butyrate treatments were associated with improved intestinal villus morphology, elevated serum total proteins and digestive enzymes (lipase and protease), and upregulated TLR4 gene expression. TB-300 and SB-500 were associated with reduced serum lipids, urea, and AST, alongside enhanced mTOR and NBN gene expression. Limitations include that the study was conducted exclusively in broiler chickens, findings are not directly translatable to humans, and it did not include a blinded assessment of outcomes.
Why this grade: The study was conducted entirely in broiler chickens (n=1,000) with no human participants, providing no direct evidence of efficacy or safety in humans.
Sodium butyrate and tributyrin are known to enhance broiler chicken performance. In this study, 1,000 Arbor Acres broiler chicks were assigned to four dietary treatments (250 birds each; six replicates of 40-42 birds): a control basal diet (CON), or the same diet supplemented with either 500 g/ton tributyrin (40%) + copper + essential oils (TB-500), 300 g/ton di- and tri-butyrin (60%) (TB-300), or 500 g/ton coated sodium butyrate (40%) (SB-500). Weekly growth parameters were recorded, and on Day 35, carcass traits, serum biochemistry, immunity, gene expression (mTOR, TLR4, NBN), intestinal morphology, caecal microbiota, and litter hygiene were assessed. TB-300 improved body weight (+ 4.6%, P = 0.014), FCR (- 5.2%, P = 0.032), and European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) (+ 14.9%, P = 0.006). SB-500 significantly reduced litter Clostridia (P < 0.0001) and aerobic bacteria (P = 0.026) counts, while all butyrate treatments lowered caecal aerobic bacterial levels (P = 0.041). TB-300 and SB-500 enhanced duodenal villi height (P < 0.0001) and crypt-villus ratio (P < 0.001); TB-500 had the deepest duodenal crypts (P = 0.003). Jejunal and ileal morphology improved with most of the supplements, particularly TB-500 (P < 0.0001; P = 0.050). All butyrate treatments increased serum total proteins (P = 0.015) and digestive enzymes (lipase, P < 0.0001; protease, P = 0.001). TB-300 and SB-500 significantly lowered serum lipids (P = 0.024), urea (P = 0.018), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.027), while enhancing mTOR and NBN gene expression (P < 0.0001). TLR4 expression was upregulated in all butyrate-treated groups (P < 0.0001). Each form of butyrate supplementation exerts distinct beneficial effects on growth, gut health, and physiological performance in broiler chickens.
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