The Journal of Nutrition Vol. 127 No. 3 March 1997, pp. 483-487
Copyright ©1997 by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences

Dietary Carboxymethylcellulose with High Instead of Low Viscosity Reduces Macronutrient Digestion in Broiler Chickens

Manuscript received 24 June 1996. Initial reviews completed 4 September 1996. Revision accepted 22 November 1996.

Coen H. M. Smits, Albertus Veldman, Martin W. A. Verstegen^*, and Anton C. Beynen

Institute for Animal Nutrition "De Schothorst," P.O. Box 533, 8200 AM Lelystad, The Netherlands; ^* Department of Animal Nutrition, Wageningen Agricultural University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AM Wageningen, The Netherlands; and  Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.166, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands

The question addressed was whether the viscosity per se of dietary non-starch polysaccharides influences macronutrient digestion in broiler chickens. Water-soluble carboxymethylcellulose preparations of low (LCMC) or high viscosity (HCMC) were fed to broiler chickens (n = 10/group) from 21 to 35 d of age. The HCMC preparations reduced weight gain and raised water intake compared with LCMC. After the HCMC diet was fed, viscosity of the supernatant of small intestinal contents was significantly raised. The HCMC preparations raised the group mean ATP concentration in the digesta of duodenum plus jejunum, indicating that bacterial activity was increased. Consumption of HCMC depressed apparent fecal digestibility of lipids and nitrogen and also apparent ileal digestibility of starch. The dietary HCMC tended (P = 0.077) to reduce plasma triglyceride concentrations. After HCMC consumption, the weights of the small intestine and colon, without or with contents, were elevated. The data indicate that high viscosity of digesta in broiler chickens is associated with a reduced macronutrient digestion and impaired growth performance. Because the carboxymethylcellulose preparations were nonfermentable by fresh feces, we suggest that HCMC reduces macronutrient digestion by raising the viscosity of small intestinal contents, which is associated with enhanced bacterial fermentation due to accumulation of undigested material.

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