Dietary fibre alleviates hepatic fat deposition via inhibiting lipogenic gene expression in meat ducks

Summary This study investigated the effect of dietary fibre ( DF ) supplementation on hepatic fat deposition of Cherry Valley meat ducks. A total of 600 1‐d‐old ducks were randomly allotted to five dietary fibre diets (1.46 (basal diet), 3.09, 4.15, 6.18 and 7.52% (analysed)) for 14 days. Growth performance decreased with increasing DF concentrations, when the DF level more than 6.18% the average daily gain ( ADG ) and feed conversion ratio (F/G) markedly decreased in meat ducks. Meat ducks supplemented over 4.15% DF had lower percentage of liver reported to live weight, liver lipid contents, hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations as well as decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ) and alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) concentrations at 14 days. The transcription of fatty acid synthase ( FAS ), acetyl‐CoA carboxylase ( ACC ) and sterol‐regulatory element‐binding protein‐1 ( SREBP ‐1) in liver was significantly reduced by DF , while no any significant difference was found about the effect of DF on hepatic peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α ( PPAR α), adipose triglyceride lipase ( ATGL ), transcription as well as caecal digesta short‐chain fatty acids ( SCFA ). Data suggested that dietary fibre supplementation decreased hepatic lipid deposition and improved characteristics of liver health via inhibiting hepatic FAS , ACC and SREBP ‐1 expression in meat ducks.