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Altered body weight gain and selected blood constituents of Baluchi lambs fed dried pomegranate peels supplemented ration

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Abstract

Pomegranate peels (PoP) have recently gained attention for their therapeutic properties. Although several studies reported the therapeutic effect, the side effect of feeding pomegranate peels supplemented ration has not received full attention. This study aimed to investigate the effects of feeding dried PoP supplemented ration on body weight gain and selected blood parameters of male Baluchi lambs. Eighteen lambs were randomly assigned to control and two treatment groups, receiving rations with 5% and 10% PoP, respectively, for 60 days. Lambs’ weight and blood samples were collected to assess blood parameters and liver enzymes. Results showed a significant reduction in weight gain in treatment groups (18% and 13%) compared to the control group (26%). Although there were no significant differences in blood biochemistry values except for an increase in GGT levels. The lack of change observed in other liver enzymes indicates that PoP is unlikely to cause liver damage. While it is true that PoP is a rich source of antioxidants that can prevent oxidative stress, excessive consumption of PoP can lead to an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals, resulting in the formation of pro-oxidants and oxidative stress. Therefore, it is important to consume PoP in moderation and balance its intake with other nutrients to maintain a healthy oxidative balance in the body. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended to limit the consumption of PoP to less than 5% of the diet to avoid the potential risks associated with excessive antioxidant intake.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Animal Health Management Department of Shiraz University for their valuable comments. Additionally, the authors express their gratitude to Professor Saeed Nazifi for his valuable guidance and assistance in interpreting the laboratory experimental data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Health Management, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Arash Omidi

  2. Specific Animal Research Centre, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

    Hossein Ansari Nik

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  1. Arash Omidi
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  2. Hossein Ansari Nik
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Arash Omidi and Hossein Ansari Nik. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Arash Omidi, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Arash Omidi.

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This study was funded the Vice Chancellor for Research at Shiraz University.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The experiment was performed under the approval of the state Committee on Animal Ethics, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (IACUC no: 4687/64). Also, the European Council Directive (86/609/EC) recommendations of November 24, 1986, regarding protecting animals used for experimental purposes were considered.

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Omidi, A., Nik, H.A. Altered body weight gain and selected blood constituents of Baluchi lambs fed dried pomegranate peels supplemented ration. Comp Clin Pathol 33, 231–237 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-023-03544-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-023-03544-4

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