Effects of dietary sunflower seeds on blood antioxidants status of layers

The current trial was performed to investigate the influence of sunflower seeds on the oxidative status of laying hens. Fifty (Hisex) bird, 20 week old, were obtained from Animal Production Research Center (kuku), were divided into two groups (n=25) for each one. The control group (A) was under control diet based on corn, maintains the (NRC, 1994) requirements for laying hens, the experimental group, supplemented by 10% sunflower seeds added to the diet. The trial run for eight weeks, blood samples were collected once per month (week 4 and 8), in EDTA coated vials, immediately placed into iced-container, centrifuged at 3000rpm/20 min, samples were separated in aliquot, and stored at -20ºC and -80ºC until analysis. Plasma analysis for enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, revealed no significant different level of uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin C, between the control group and the treated one, while catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), vitamin E, and vitamin A, levels were significantly enhanced by the addition of 10% sunflower seeds.