Protection of Chicks Against E. coli Infection by Dietary Supplementation with Vitamin E

Abstract

SummaryDietary supplementation of 150–300 mg vitamin E (dl-α-tocopheryl acetate)/kg gave increased protection against a relatively moderate (25–30% mortality) E. coli infection. A correlative 2-3-fold increase in log2 antibody titer against the E. coli indicates that increased chick survival was in part immunologic.We thank Hoffmann La Roche, Inc., for supplying the vitamin E and for the vitamin E assays of the diets.