Dietary charcoal supplementation modulates hematological, biochemical, immunological, antioxidant, and intestinal...

This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary charcoal supplementation on hematological and biochemical indices, immune function, antioxidant status, and intestinal histomorphology in ducks.

A total of 144 mule ducks, aged 4 weeks, were randomly allocated into 6 experimental groups. Birds were reared under uniform conditions in floor pens and provided with a basal diet (3,000 kcal/kg ME and 20% CP) supplemented with 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, or 2.5% charcoal.

Dietary inclusion of charcoal at 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% significantly reduced serum creatinine (p = 0.049) and urea concentrations (p = 0.036), suggesting enhanced renal function. Additionally, ducks receiving 1.5% and 2.0% charcoal exhibited significantly lower plasma corticosterone levels (p = 0.045) and elevated blood glucose concentrations (p = 0.042) compared to the control group. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in other serum biochemical markers (total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin-to-globulin ratio, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase) or hematological parameters. Antioxidant capacity was significantly enhanced (p ≤ 0.05) in ducks fed 1.5% charcoal, except for malondialdehyde levels, which remained unaffected (p = 0.943). Serum immunoglobulin A concentrations and relative spleen weights were significantly higher in the 1.5% and 2.0% charcoal groups (p = 0.0125 and p = 0.0207, respectively), while IgG and IgM levels did not differ among treatments (p > 0.05). Moreover, charcoal supplementation at 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5% positively influenced the villus architecture of both the duodenum and cecum (p < 0.05).

Dietary supplementation with up to 1.5% charcoal appears to confer physiological benefits in ducks by supporting renal function, enhancing immune and antioxidant responses, and improving intestinal morphology.