Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Lutein and DL-Methionine on Serum Antioxidant Profile and Cellular Immunity of Captive Golden Pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus)

Both carotenoids and methionine independently act as antioxidant and immune-modulator. As captive pheasant's diets are deficient in these nutrients, supplementation of either of these nutrients alone or in combination could be expected to be beneficial. Hence, this experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementing lutein and DL-methionine on serum antioxidant status and cellular immunity of captive golden pheasants. Twenty-four adult male golden pheasants were randomly distributed into four groups of six each in an experiment based on 2×2 factorial designs. Basal diet contained no supplementary lutein or DL-methionine (M₀C₀). The diets of the birds in group M₀C₁ were supplemented with lutein (40 mg/kg DM) without supplementary DL methionine, whereas, those in group M₁C₀ were supplemented only with DL-methionine (1.5 g/kg DM). Birds in group M₁C₁ were fed both the supplements. Supplementation of lutein, but not DL methionine resulted in increased (P<0.01) serum concentration of total carotenoids, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase, along with reduced (P<0.01) concentration of malondialdehyde. Supplementation of both lutein and DL-methionine increased (P<0.01) serum concentration of reduced glutathione; however, the best response was observed when both the supplements were fed together. Supplementation of lutein increased the foot web index which is suggestive of improved cellular immunity. It is concluded that feeding of supplementary lutein at 40 mg/kg DM would improve the antioxidant status and cellular immune response of captive golden pheasants.