Scientists tested whether two natural ingredients—artichoke leaf powder and a colorful compound called astaxanthin—could help chickens grow better and stay healthier. They fed 1,080 baby chickens different combinations of these ingredients for five weeks. The results were promising: chickens that received the right mix grew faster, had better digestion, and showed signs of stronger immune systems. This research suggests that natural plant-based additives might be a better alternative to traditional supplements in chicken farming, which could eventually benefit consumers who eat chicken products.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether adding artichoke leaf powder and astaxanthin (a natural red pigment) to chicken feed would improve the chickens’ growth, health, and digestion
  • Who participated: 1,080 one-day-old broiler chickens (the type raised for meat) divided into nine groups receiving different feed combinations over 35 days
  • Key finding: Chickens that received 60 mg of astaxanthin combined with 1 gram of artichoke leaf powder per kilogram of feed grew significantly faster, gained more weight, and used their food more efficiently than chickens on regular feed
  • What it means for you: Natural plant-based supplements may offer a healthier, more sustainable way to raise chickens. While this research is promising, it’s specific to chicken farming and doesn’t directly tell us how these ingredients might affect human health, though it suggests they’re safe and beneficial compounds worth studying further

The Research Details

Researchers conducted a controlled experiment with 1,080 baby chickens divided into nine groups. Each group received different feed combinations: a control group with regular feed, groups with only astaxanthin, groups with only artichoke leaf powder, and groups with various combinations of both ingredients. The chickens were raised for 35 days (about five weeks), which is the typical time it takes to raise chickens for meat. The researchers carefully measured everything: how much the chickens weighed, how much feed they ate, their blood work, and the bacteria in their digestive systems.

This type of study is called a controlled experiment because the researchers kept everything the same except for what they added to the feed. This allows them to see exactly what effect each ingredient had. The chickens were randomly assigned to groups, meaning there was no bias in which chickens got which feed. Having multiple groups receiving the same treatment (six copies of each group) helped ensure the results were reliable and not due to chance.

The researchers tested multiple outcomes to get a complete picture of health: growth measurements, blood cell counts, liver function, antioxidant protection (the body’s ability to fight damage), and the types of bacteria living in the chickens’ digestive systems.

This research matters because the poultry industry is constantly looking for natural alternatives to synthetic additives. Understanding which natural ingredients work best can help farmers raise healthier chickens more sustainably. The study design—testing combinations of ingredients rather than just single ingredients—is particularly valuable because it shows how different compounds might work together, which is more realistic than testing them separately.

This study has several strengths: it used a large number of animals (1,080), had multiple treatment groups to compare, used repeated groups for each treatment to ensure reliability, and measured many different health markers rather than just one outcome. The study was published in PLoS ONE, a reputable peer-reviewed journal. However, this research was conducted only in chickens, so we cannot directly apply these findings to humans or other animals. The study focused on practical farming outcomes rather than understanding the exact biological mechanisms of how these ingredients work.

What the Results Show

The most successful combination was 60 mg of astaxanthin plus 1 gram of artichoke leaf powder per kilogram of feed (called T6 in the study). Chickens receiving this combination grew significantly faster and heavier than control chickens, and they converted their feed into body weight more efficiently—meaning they needed less food to gain the same amount of weight.

When researchers looked at blood work, they found that supplemented chickens had healthier immune responses. Specifically, certain white blood cells called heterophils were lower in supplemented groups, and the ratio between different types of white blood cells improved. This suggests the chickens’ immune systems were working better and weren’t as stressed.

The supplements also improved the chickens’ metabolic health. Cholesterol levels decreased in some groups, and uric acid (a waste product) was lower in others. These changes suggest the supplements helped the chickens’ bodies process nutrients more efficiently and reduce harmful waste products.

Perhaps most importantly, the supplements dramatically improved gut health. All supplemented groups had fewer harmful E. coli bacteria and significantly more beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria in their digestive systems. A healthy gut microbiota (the community of bacteria in the digestive system) is crucial for digestion, immune function, and overall health.

The study found that antioxidant enzyme activities—the body’s natural defense system against cellular damage—improved in supplemented groups. Glutathione peroxidase (an important protective enzyme) increased in all supplemented groups, with the highest levels in chickens receiving the highest dose of astaxanthin combined with artichoke powder. Catalase (another protective enzyme) also increased in certain treatment groups. These findings suggest the supplements helped protect the chickens’ cells from damage caused by normal metabolism and stress.

This research builds on previous studies showing that astaxanthin and plant-based supplements can improve animal health. However, this is one of the first studies to test the combination of artichoke leaf powder and astaxanthin together in chickens. The results align with what scientists have observed with similar compounds in other animals—that natural antioxidants and plant extracts can improve growth, immune function, and gut health. This study is valuable because it tests practical combinations that farmers might actually use, rather than just single ingredients.

This study was conducted only in chickens, so we cannot assume these results would apply to humans, other animals, or even other chicken breeds. The study lasted only 35 days, which is the normal lifespan for meat chickens but doesn’t tell us about long-term effects. The researchers didn’t identify exactly which compounds in the artichoke leaf powder were responsible for the benefits—they tested the whole powder rather than isolated ingredients. Additionally, while the study measured many health markers, it didn’t measure some factors that might be important for consumers, such as meat quality or nutrient content of the chicken meat itself.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, the combination of 60 mg astaxanthin with 1 gram of artichoke leaf powder per kilogram of feed appears to be the most effective for improving chicken health and growth (moderate to high confidence based on the study design). If you’re involved in poultry farming or the feed industry, this combination may be worth considering as a natural alternative to synthetic additives. However, more research is needed to confirm these results in different chicken breeds, different farming conditions, and over longer time periods.

Poultry farmers, feed manufacturers, and agricultural researchers should pay attention to these findings as they seek more sustainable and natural production methods. Consumers interested in how their chicken is raised may find this research relevant to understanding natural farming practices. However, this research doesn’t directly apply to human nutrition—while astaxanthin and artichoke are consumed by humans, the doses and effects in chickens don’t necessarily translate to human health benefits. People interested in these ingredients for their own health should consult with healthcare providers and look for human-based research.

In chickens, the benefits appeared within the 35-day study period, with improvements in growth visible within the first few weeks and changes in blood markers and gut bacteria measurable by the end of the study. If these findings were applied to chicken farming, consumers might see benefits in chicken products within one production cycle (about 6-7 weeks). However, any potential human health benefits would require separate research and would likely take longer to manifest.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you’re a farmer or involved in poultry production, track feed conversion ratio (the amount of feed needed to produce one pound of chicken meat) weekly, comparing your current practices to the T6 treatment protocol. Measure this as: total feed consumed ÷ total weight gained. Target a 5-10% improvement in efficiency.
  • If implementing these supplements, gradually introduce the combination of 60 mg astaxanthin + 1g artichoke leaf powder per kilogram of feed into your current feed formulation. Start with one flock as a test group while maintaining your current practice with another group to compare results directly.
  • Track chicken growth metrics weekly (average body weight, feed consumption, mortality rate), conduct blood work at day 21 and day 35 to monitor immune and metabolic markers, and assess feed quality and cost-effectiveness monthly. Compare these metrics to your baseline data and industry standards to determine if the supplement investment provides sufficient return.

This research was conducted in chickens and does not directly apply to human health or nutrition. While astaxanthin and artichoke are consumed by humans, the doses, delivery methods, and effects studied here are specific to poultry farming. If you are considering astaxanthin or artichoke supplements for personal health reasons, consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian. This summary is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical or agricultural advice. Always consult with a veterinarian before making changes to animal feed or farming practices.