The Role of Baker’s Yeast in Enhancing Liver and Kidney Functions in Newly Hatched Chicks
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65420/sjphrt.v2i3.190Keywords:
Baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Liver function, Kidney function, Newly hatched chicks, Dietary supplementation, Poultry healthAbstract
This study investigated the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of dietary supplementation with baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in newly hatched chicks over a 14-day experimental period. A total of 120 chicks were randomly assigned to four equal groups with 3 replications for each group, 12 pens (n=10 per pen): control group (C) receiving a basal diet without yeast supplementation, and three treatment groups receiving basal diets supplemented with 2% (Y1), 4% (Y2), and 6% (Y3) baker’s yeast per kilogram of diet, respectively. Liver function biomarkers including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (T.bilirubin) were measured alongside kidney function markers including urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Results demonstrated that baker’s yeast supplementation significantly improved liver enzyme profiles, with Y1 and Y2 groups showing marked reductions in ALT and AST levels compared to the control group (p<0.05). The Y1 group exhibited the most favorable outcomes with ALT levels decreasing from control values (17.01-22.31 U/L) to 12.51-16.05 U/L, and AST levels dropping from 45.2-50.5 U/L to 28.91-37.23 U/L. Kidney function parameters showed substantial improvement in yeast-supplemented groups, particularly in Y1 and Y2, where urea levels decreased from 9-13 mg/dL (control) to 3-6 mg/dL and 4-9 mg/dL, respectively. Creatinine levels were notably lower in treatment groups, with Y1 showing values of 0.03-0.08 mg/dL compared to control values of 0.10-0.14 mg/dL. Total bilirubin decreased progressively with increasing yeast supplementation, reaching 0.7-1.0 mg/dL in Y3 compared to 1.2-1.5 mg/dL in controls. These findings suggest that baker’s yeast supplementation at 2-4% concentrations effectively enhances both liver and kidney functions in newly hatched chicks, with potential applications in poultry health management.
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