The objective was to determine the effects of oral
lithium chloride supplementation on bone strength and mass in broiler chickens. Ninety-six broilers were assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups (
lithium chloride or control; n=48/treatment). Beginning at 1 or 3 wk of age, chickens were administered
lithium chloride (20 mg/kg
body weight) or water daily by oral gavage. At 6 wk of age, chickens were euthanized and bone and muscle samples were collected. A 24 h
lithium chloride (20 mg/kg
body weight) challenge determined that serum
lithium chloride increased within 2 h and cleared the system within 24 h, demonstrating the effective delivery of
lithium chloride. Treatment did not influence
body weight (P≥0.20) or feed intake (P≥0.81), demonstrating that
lithium chloride did not negatively affect broiler growth. To determine bone strength, 3-point bending was performed on the femora and tibiae obtained from control and
lithium chloride-treated birds in the 1 wk group.
Lithium chloride-treated birds had a 22% reduction in stiffness compared with control in the femora (P=0.02) without a corresponding reduction in elastic modulus. No differences were observed in yield or ultimate load and in the corresponding calculations of stresses (P≥0.26). The toughness of tibiae was not altered in
lithium chloride compared with control (P=0.11). Bone length and micro-CT imaging were performed on the tibiae of control and
lithium chloride groups. No differences (P≥0.52) in bone length, cortical or trabecular bone volume, trabecular thickness, number, or spacing were observed.
Lithium chloride treatment did not affect pectoralis muscle color or
lipid oxidation (P>0.05). In conclusion,
lithium chloride treatment in broilers did not negatively affect growth or meat quality. A reduction in bone stiffness of the femur with
lithium chloride treatment was observed, however unlike the mouse model, the dosages of
lithium chloride used in the current study did not result in
anabolic effects on broiler long bones.