3-Methylindole (Skatole), a degradation product of tryptophan produced by intestinal microbial activity, significantly contributes to odor nuisance. Its adverse effects on animal welfare, human health, and environmental pollution have been noted. However, it is still unclear whether the intestinal microbiota mediates the impact of selenium (Se) on skatole production and what the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. A selenized glucose (SeGlu) derivative is a novel organic selenium compound. In this study, a diverse range of dietary SeGlu-treated levels, including SeGlu-deficient (CK), SeGlu-adequate (0.15 mg Se per L), and SeGlu-supranutritional (0.4 mg Se per L) conditions, were used to investigate the complex interaction of SeGlu on intestinal microbiome and serum metabolome changes in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The study showed that SeGlu supplementation enhanced the antioxidant ability in rats, significantly manifested in the increases of the activity of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), while no change in the level of malonaldehyde (MDA). Metagenomic sequencing analysis verified that the SeGlu treatment group significantly increased the abundance of beneficial microorganisms such as Clostridium, Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, and Alloprevotella while reducing the abundance of opportunistic pathogens such as Bacteroides and Alistipes significantly. Further metabolomic analysis revealed phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis changes in the SeGlu treatment group. Notably, the biosynthesis of indole, a critical pathway, was affected by SeGlu treatment, with several crucial enzymes implicated. Correlation analysis demonstrated strong associations between specific bacterial species - Treponema, Bacteroides, and Ruminococcus, and changes in indole and derivative concentrations. Moreover, the efficacy of SeGlu-treated fecal microbiota was confirmed through fecal microbiota transplantation, leading to a decrease in the concentration of skatole in rats. Collectively, the analysis of microbiota and metabolome response to diverse SeGlu levels suggests that SeGlu is a promising dietary additive in modulating intestinal microbiota and reducing odor nuisance in the livestock and poultry industry.

This study aimed to explore the effects of selenized glucose (SeGlu) and Na selenite supplementation on various aspects of laying hens such as production performance, egg quality, egg Se concentration, microbial population, antioxidant enzymes activity, immunological response, and yolk fatty acid profile. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 168 laying hens at 27-wk of age were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups with 7 replications. Se source (Na selenite and SeGlu) and Se level (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg) were used as treatments. When 0.3 mg SeGlu/kg was compared to 0.3 mg Na selenite/kg, the interaction findings revealed that 0.3 mg SeGlu/kg increased egg production percent and shell ash (P < 0.05). When compared to 0.3 mg Na selenite/kg, dietary supplementation with 0.3 and 0.6 mg SeGlu/kg resulted in an increase in albumen height, Haugh unit, and yolk color of fresh eggs (P < 0.05). SeGlu enhanced albumen height, Haugh unit, shell thickness (P < 0.01), albumen index, yolk share, specific gravity, shell ash (P < 0.05) of fresh eggs and shell thickness (P < 0.05) of stored eggs as compared to Na selenite. The interaction showed that 0.6 mg SeGlu/kg enhanced yolk Se concentration while decreasing malondialdehyde levels in fresh egg yolk (P < 0.05). SeGlu enhanced Se concentration in albumen and glutathione peroxidase activity in plasma (P < 0.05) as compared to Na selenite. 0.6 mg Se/kg increased lactic acid bacteria, antibody response to sheep red blood cells, and lowered ∑n-6 PUFA/ ∑n-3 PUFA ratio (P < 0.05). As a result, adding SeGlu to the feed of laying hens enhanced egg production, egg quality, egg Se concentration, fresh yolk lipid oxidation, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity.

This study aims to investigate the impacts of in ovo feeding (IOF) of selenized glucose (SeGlu) on selenium (Se) level and antioxidant capacity of breast muscle in newborn broilers. After candling on 16 day of incubation, a total of 450 eggs were randomly divided into three treatments. On the 17.5th day of incubation, eggs in a control treatment were injected with 0.1 mL of physiological saline (0.75%), while the 2nd group and 3rd group were supplied with 0.1 mL of physiological saline containing 10 μg Se from SeGlu (SeGlu10 group) and 20 μg Se from SeGlu (SeGlu20 group). The results showed that in ovo injection in both SeGlu10 and SeGlu20 increased the Se level and reduced glutathione concentration (GSH) in pectoral muscle of hatchlings (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the SeGlu20-treated chicks significantly enhanced the activity of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and mRNA expression of NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) in breast muscle, while there was upregulation in mRNA expressions of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX-1) and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) and higher total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in SeGlu10 treatment (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference on enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase (GR), glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase, concentration of malondialdehyde, and free radical scavenging ability (FRSA) of superoxide radical (O2-•) and hydroxyl radical (OH•) was observed among the three treatments (P > 0.05). Therefore, IOF of SeGlu enhanced Se deposition in breast muscle of neonatal broilers. In addition, in ovo injection of SeGlu could increase the antioxidant capacity of newborn chicks possibly through upregulating the mRNA expression of GPX1, TrxR1, and NQO1, as well as the SOD activity.

Thirty-two male Hu lambs (32.31 ± 3.31 kg; 4-months-old) were randomly assigned to four treatments: (1) control (CON), (2) selenium-enriched yeast (SeY, 0.8 mg/kg), (3) selenized glucose (SeGlu, 0.8 mg/kg), and (4) sodium selenite (SS, 0.8 mg/kg) to evaluate their effects on Hu lamb production and slaughter performance, antioxidant capacity, hematological parameters, meat quality and shelf-life. The production and slaughter performances were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. SeGlu and SeY increased (P < 0.05) the total antioxidant capacity in serum and muscle selenium content while decreasing (P < 0.05) the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents both in serum and muscle. SeGlu extended muscle shelf-life by 7.7 h compared with CON and decreased (P < 0.05) yellowness (b*) and lightness (L*) in meat stored for 24 h. In summary, the effects of SeGlu were similar to those of SeY and better than those of SS in improving serum and muscle antioxidant status, prolonging muscle shelf-life, and increasing selenium deposition in muscle.

Selenized glucose (SeGlu) is a new type of organic selenium (Se) that is synthesized through the selenide reaction of glucose with sodium hydrogen selenide. This study aimed to clarify the influence of dietary SeGlu on the Se level and antioxidant capacity of the liver, oviduct, and spleen in laying hens. A total of 360, 60-week-old, Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: a basal diet alone (control group, without adding exogenous Se) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg of Se from sodium selenite (SS) or 5 mg/kg of Se from SeGlu. Diets with SeGlu increased Se levels in the liver, oviduct, and spleen of laying hens (P < 0.001). Compared with the control and SS groups, diet supplemented with SeGlu enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the spleen and oviduct as well as the scavenging ability of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH•) in the oviduct (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, SeGlu treatment resulted in an increase (P < 0.05) in GSH-Px activity, T-AOC, and scavenging abilities of hydroxyl radical and DPPH• in the liver of hens. In addition, dietary SeGlu and SS decreased the hydrogen peroxide level in the oviduct in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05). Therefore, dietary SeGlu increased Se concentration and antioxidant ability in the liver, oviduct, and spleen of laying hens. Moreover, SeGlu may be used as a potential source of Se additive in laying hen production.