ArticleJournal of animal science and biotechnology2026
Integrated metabolomic and gut microbiota analyses reveal TCA cycle dysfunction in broiler skeletal disorders and the protective effect of L‑malic acid.
Article in Journal of animal science and biotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSkeletal disorders pose a significant challenge to intensive broiler production. However, the metabolic mechanisms underlying the development of skeletal abnormalities in broilers remain unclear. This study aims to reveal the underlying mechanisms through multi-omics analyses and evaluate the ameliorative effects of exogenous L-malic acid supplementation.
resultsThe abnormal group exhibited reduced serum concentrations of calcium and phosphorus, as well as decreased bone calcium and phosphorus content. These changes were accompanied by deterioration in bone geometric properties and microstructural parameters. The abnormal group exhibited downregulated expression of osteogenesis-related genes, whereas the mRNA expression levels of osteoclast-related genes were significantly higher than those observed in the normal group (P < 0.05). Serum metabolomics revealed that the differentially enriched pathways were primarily associated with energy metabolism, particularly the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle). Concurrently, the mRNA expression levels of genes encoding key glycolytic enzymes and key complexes of the electron transport chain were elevated in the abnormal group. The analysis of the gut microbiota revealed an increased abundance of harmful bacteria and a significant decrease in microbes associated with energy metabolism in the abnormal group (P < 0.05). Targeted analysis further identified TCA cycle intermediates, fumarate and malate, as robust biomarkers for discriminating skeletal health status. Early dietary supplementation with L-malic acid improved bone health in broilers by increasing TCA activity, as evidenced by enhanced bone mineralization, improved bone microstructural parameters, and an increased OPG/RANKL ratio.
conclusionsSkeletal abnormalities in broilers are closely associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis accompanied by TCA cycle metabolic disruption. Exogenous L-malic acid supplementation improved bone health by enhancing TCA cycle-related activity, supporting a functional role of TCA cycle-related metabolism in skeletal development.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.