Physiological and Metabolic Response of Peking Ducks Supplemented with Graded Levels of Hesperidin: Focus on Lipid Metabolism, Oxidative Balance, and Thyroid Axis Activity

Abstract

Research has identified the high incidence of deposition in abdominal fat as one of the economic practical challenges for improving carcass quality, especially among well-known Pekin duck strains. This makes it necessary to find natural, safe alternatives for synthetic stimulants. Thus, this study was designed to assess the influence of different concentrations of hesperidin on lipid profile and oxidative status as well as thyroid hormones activation in Pekin ducks. The experiment was conducted in the fields and laboratories of the College of Agriculture at the University of Kerbala using 160 one-day-old birds. The results of the study showed a substantial linear improvement in the lipid profile at the dose of 100 mg/kg. Total cholesterol decreased from 190.50 to 155.50 mg/ dL, triglycerides from 95.10 to 55.86 mg/dL, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from 65.26 to 38.72 mg/dL. In contrast, HDL levels increased to 78.87 mg/dL. Regarding the oxidative status, the activity of the enzyme (GPX) increased from 35.20 to 63.40 units/mL, and the lipid stress indicator (MDA) decreased from 3.60 to 1.62 nmol/dL. This reflects superior protection of the cellular membranes. Metabolic activity was also enhanced through the increase in the level of the hormone (T3) from 1.60 to 2.42 units/L and the hormone (T4) from 7.10 to 9.25 units/L. This increased their conversion ratio (T3/T4) from 0.23 to 0.26. It is concluded from this that hesperidin acts as an effective dual-function metabolic regulator. It improves lipid metabolism and strengthens the bird's defensive system efficiently. We recommend using hesperidin at a dose of 100 mg/kg as a natural feed additive to enhance health and productivity in duck-rearing projects.