Effect of alliums on total lipid in plasma and tissues of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with respect to age and sex.

Dietary onion and garlic caused an increase in the level of liver and plasma total lipids in Coturnix coturnix japonica. This increase could be due to the effect of an increased feed intake, bile production, digestion and absorption that in turn caused an increased utilisation of dietary fat, increased transfer of dietary lipids to the liver and/or due to increased lipogenesis as such. However, there was no increase in the muscle lipid content. This effect in the muscle could be due to inhibitory effect of onion or garlic on lipoprotein lipase activity. Further, the changes in the tissue total lipid level in the control group due to change in age and sex were also observed.

Effect of onion (Allium cepa Linn.) and garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) on plasma triglyceride content in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonicum).

Dietary onion and garlic caused an increase in the level of plasma triglyceride which could be due to insulin like activity of dietary alliums and other factors that promote lipogenesisi in growing stages. Changes in the plasma triglyceride level in the control group due to change in age and sex were also noted. The triglyceride level was more in female birds when compared to males of similar age group. The plasma trigelyceride level increased with age in both sex except for the level being similar in the 6 and 9-week old females and 3 and 6-week old male birds. The results suggest that the effects of alliums in growing and adult stages may be different which needs further study.