Fatty Liver Syndrome-VinCholine

At present, fatty liver syndrome is considered one of the top non-infectious idiopathic diseases that cause mortality in poultry. Possible causes in most cases are nutritional, genetic, environmental, or hormonal factors or a combination of these factors. A chicken liver has to be able to deal with the higher metabolic requirements for modern poultry productivity. Lipoprotein synthesis takes place in the liver. Hence, lack of lipoprotein formation results in large amounts of lipid accumulation in the liver of poultry, leading to a fatty liver. Upon the onset of egg-laying in hens, lipids, including free fatty acids, triglycerides, and phospholipids, are increased in blood plasma for the synthesis of yolk precursors in oocytes. In many cases, the liver of highly productive hens with fatty liver exhibits hemorrhagic syndrome and may lead to sudden death due to the heavy demands of yolk synthesis, which burdens the liver. Lipid metabolism and hepatic lipid disorders are key points in not only the growth but also the production of chicken.

What is Fatty Liver Syndrome in Poultry?

Disorders with the liver or kidneys can form in a chicken. Hens affected by fatty liver syndrome may suddenly die, exhibiting enlargement of the liver as well as hepatic rupture and haemorrhage. The two most common conditions are:

Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome (FLHS):

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) is a pathological state of the liver in layers, with features of a metabolic disorder that is expressed in haemorrhages in the liver tissue and the development of steatosis.

Causes: excessive dietary energy intake, and heredity may also be a cause. Birds housed in cages will likely be affected because they cannot exercise to burn off the extra dietary energy.

Fatty Liver and Kidney Syndrome (FLKS):

Fatty Liver and Kidney Syndrome is due to nutritional or metabolic problems. They were primarily observed in the young ones of the birds.

Causes: deficiency of biotin, choline, low level of fat in feed, stress, age, aflatoxin in feed, and oxidizing agent in feed.

Choline is a "quasi-vitamin" and one of its metabolic pathways is the formation of phosphatidylcholine, the main component of the cell membrane and lipoproteins. Phosphatidylcholine is a central metabolite in the functions associated with choline.

Choline which is a rediscovered critical amino acid for poultry is usually added to poultry diets in the form of synthetic choline chloride. Adding synthetic choline chloride in the ration is a common practice in broiler farming. However, it has several demerits:

·Highly hygroscopic and corrosive

·Poor absorption rate

·Loss of vitamins

·Accumulation of trimethylamine (TMA) in the gut of the bird, developing a fishy taint in the edible tissues of the broiler

Hence, AN ALTERNATIVE TO SYNTHETIC CHOLINE CHLORIDE is being extensively investigated. Many herbs possess choline-like properties and may exert outstanding effects when added to the ration of the birds.

VinCholine

VinCholine is a “natural source of Choline conjugates” that can replace synthetic choline in feed. The phytogenic active conjugates of choline in VinCholine have intrinsic bio-actives on liver physiology and metabolism and ensure maximum bioavailability. The essential fatty acids, phospholipids, and other metabolites play a significant role in the metabolism, enzymatic modulation, and biosynthesis of a natural form of choline. It is an excellent product that regulates lipid metabolism and plays a significant role in the mobilization of excess abdominal fat.