RESUMO
This study investigated the impact of supplementing normal and high-fat diets with graded levels of lycopene on the growth performance, cholesterol level of the muscle, and antioxidant markers in Japanese quail. A total of 192, 14 day-old unsexed Japanese quail were part of a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement consisting of a control group; birds that were fed a normal fat diet (NFD), another control group; birds that were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) with four levels of lycopene for NFD and HFD (0, 100, 200 and 300mg lycopene/kg diet). Lycopene level of 300mg/kg gave the greatest body weight, body weight gain, and relative growth rate when added to the NFD, but this level showed non-significant improvement in growth performance when supplemented to an HFD. Superoxide dismutase in the muscle and liver was noted to be high in NFD+ 300mgL, HFD+ 200mgL, and HFD+ 300mgL groups, while malondialdehyde level in the muscle and liver and cholesterol level in the muscle was found to be low in the same groups. Lycopene slightly improved growth performance, but significantly improved the antioxidant status and lowered cholesterol concentration in the muscle. A diet supplemented with 300 mg lycopene/kg could be recommended for Japanese quail.