Antioxidant-Prooxidant Balance in the Intestine: Applications in Chick Placement and Pig Weaning

A delicate balance between antioxidants and prooxidants in cells is an important determinant of various physiological processes and maintenance of this balance is the main aim of so called an integrated antioxidant system built in the animal body. This system was developed during evolution to provide an antioxidant defence and give a chance for animals to survive in oxygenated atmosphere. Recent data suggest that the antioxidant-prooxidant balance starts in the intestine. Indeed, redox status of the gut is involved in regulations of many important physiological processes. When food is consumed and appears in the stomach and then in the small intestine, it contains a range of antioxidants (vitamins E, C, carotenoids, flavonoids, etc.) but may also contain a range of potentially dangerous substances (oxidized lipids, mycotoxins, traces of heavy metals, etc.). To keep a balance between antioxidants and prooxidants in the intestine is a very important task in which diet plays a key role. Recently a vitagene concept was developed indicating that vitagenes are responsible for synthesis of a variety of antioxidant molecules increasing adaptive ability of human/animals to various stress conditions. Furthermore, there is a range of nutrients able to affect vitagenes. In poultry production, chicken placement is considered to be a substantial stress and dietary antioxidants could have a protective effect. Similarly, in pig production, weaning process is also a great stress for piglets. Preliminary data indicates that usage of antioxidant compositions upplying with water for newly hatched chicks and newly-weaned piglets could become an important part of the animal production technologies.