Chromium picolinate alleviates heat stress-induced breast muscle glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in broiler chickens.

To date, extensive research has shown that heat stress disturbs glucose and lipid metabolism in broiler chickens. Recent evidence suggests that chromium supplementation influences metabolic regulation, particularly in glucose and lipid homeostasis in mammals. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in the breast muscle of broiler chickens under chronic heat stress. A total of 180 male Arbor Acres (AA) broilers (22 days old) were randomly assigned to three groups: a thermoneutral control group (21°C), a heat stress group (31°C), and a heat stress group receiving chromium picolinate (31°C + 400 μg/Kg elemental chromium). After 14 days, heat stress significantly impaired growth performance, induced insulin resistance, increased fat deposition, and suppressed the expression of key glucose and lipid metabolic genes. In contrast, chromium picolinate improved the average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR). It also upregulated glucose metabolism genes (GLUT1, PI3K, GS) and lipid metabolism genes (PPARα, CPT-1, LPL) in breast muscle. Overall, chromium picolinate alleviated heat stress-induced skeletal muscle glucose and lipid metabolism disturbances in broiler chickens.