Vitagenes in poultry production: adaptation to commercially relevant stresses
Peter F. Surai
Abstract
Commercial poultry production is associated with various stresses and the vitagene network is responsible for stress adaptation. Indeed, activation of vitagenes via such transcription factors as Nrf2 and HSF leads to an additional synthesis of an array of protective molecules which can deal with increased ROS/RNS production. Therefore, nutritional modulation of vitagenes is considered as a new direction in nutritional research. Therefore, there is an opportunity to activate a range of vitagenes (via Nrf2-related mechanisms: superoxide dismutase, SOD; heme oxygenase-1, HO-1; GSH and thioredoxin, or other mechanisms: Heat shock protein (HSP)/heat shock factor (HSP), sirtuins, etc.) to maximise internal AO protection and maintain redox balance and improve stress resistance. Therefore, the development of vitagene-regulating nutritional supplements is on the agenda of many commercial companies worldwide. Our recent data indicate that vitagene-regulating mixture (PerforMax/Magic Antistress Mix) showed promising results in fighting stresses and found its way into commercial poultry production