Effects of oral ethanol on serum lipoprotein cholesterol in juvenile meat-type chickens

The effects of moderate, short-term ethanol (EtOH) intake on various physiological parameters in growth-selected, juvenile, meat-type chickens were determined. Ethanol (20%) was administered orally at 2 ml per kg of body weight three times daily between 21 and 28 days of age. Feed consumption, body weight, rectal temperature, relative weights of the thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, and liver, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, and high-density, low-density, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were determined. Serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, and relative liver weight peaked across all treatments at 23 days of age. Males exhibited higher cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations than females. Ethanol did not affect feed consumption, body weight, or relative liver weight, but decreased elevated concentrations of serum low- and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides at 23 days of age. Short-term, oral administration of EtOH may be used to suppress elevated concentrations of low- and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in male and female growth-selected, juvenile, meat-type chickens without gross changes in the liver or in growth.