Soybean Peptide Supplements Improve Gut Health and Metabolism in Chickens
Replacing 0.2% of soybean meal with soybean bioactive peptides improved intestinal health and metabolic function in broiler chickens through gut microbiome and metabolome changes.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Supplementing 0.2% soybean bioactive peptide in broiler feed improved intestinal health and metabolic function, revealed through multi-omics analysis of gut microbiome and metabolome.
Key Numbers
320 broilers, 2 groups, 10 replicates of 16 birds. 0.2% SBP replaced soybean meal. 70-day experiment. Higher final weight and daily gain (P < 0.05). Lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Reduced IL-1β and IFN-γ. Increased ZO-1.
How They Did This
Randomized controlled study of 320 yellow-feathered broilers (2 groups, 10 replicates, 16 birds each) comparing basal diet versus 0.2% SBP supplementation with multi-omics gut analysis.
Why This Research Matters
Finding natural feed supplements that improve poultry health reduces the need for antibiotics in animal agriculture, addressing a major driver of antimicrobial resistance.
The Bigger Picture
Bioactive peptides from plant sources could replace antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock, supporting the global effort to reduce antibiotic use in agriculture.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single poultry breed (yellow-feathered broilers). Results may not generalize to other breeds or species. Cost-effectiveness of SBP supplementation not assessed.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the cost-benefit ratio of SBP supplementation versus conventional antibiotic growth promoters?
- ?Would higher SBP concentrations provide additional benefits?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 320 broilers, 0.2% SBP A small amount of soybean bioactive peptide replacing soybean meal improved gut health and metabolism in broiler chickens
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed randomized animal study with adequate replication. Strong for poultry applications but does not directly translate to human health.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025, contributing to the evidence base for bioactive peptide supplements in animal nutrition.
- Original Title:
- Soybean bioactive peptide supplementation improves gut health and metabolism in broiler chickens.
- Published In:
- Poultry science, 104(2), 104727 (2025)
- Authors:
- Peng, Han, Song, Xiaoyan, Chen, Jialei, Xiong, Xia, Yang, Li, Yu, Chunlin, Qiu, Mohan, Zhang, Zengrong, Hu, Chenming, Zhu, Shiliang, Xia, Bo, Wang, Jiangxian, Xiong, Zhuxiang, Du, Longhuan, Yang, Chaowu
- Database ID:
- RPEP-13011
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What are soybean bioactive peptides?
Soybean bioactive peptides are small protein fragments derived from soybeans that have biological activity beyond basic nutrition. They can influence gut health, immune function, and metabolism when consumed.
Why does poultry gut health matter?
Healthy chicken guts mean better feed conversion, less disease, and reduced need for antibiotics. Improving poultry gut health with natural peptide supplements helps address the global antibiotic resistance crisis in agriculture.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13011APA
Peng, Han; Song, Xiaoyan; Chen, Jialei; Xiong, Xia; Yang, Li; Yu, Chunlin; Qiu, Mohan; Zhang, Zengrong; Hu, Chenming; Zhu, Shiliang; Xia, Bo; Wang, Jiangxian; Xiong, Zhuxiang; Du, Longhuan; Yang, Chaowu. (2025). Soybean bioactive peptide supplementation improves gut health and metabolism in broiler chickens.. Poultry science, 104(2), 104727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.104727
MLA
Peng, Han, et al. "Soybean bioactive peptide supplementation improves gut health and metabolism in broiler chickens.." Poultry science, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.104727
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Soybean bioactive peptide supplementation improves gut healt..." RPEP-13011. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/peng-2025-soybean-bioactive-peptide-supplementation
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.