Table 1. Description of studies used in the meta-analysis of dietary carotenoids in laying hens

Articles Study location Treatment Compound Carotenoid level (g/kg) Result
Lokaewmanee et al. (2013) Japan Red pepper Capsanthin and capsaicin 0–5.0 ↑ yolk color↑ villi height
Nobakht (2015) Iran Watermelon skin β-Carotene 0–2.0 ↑ performance
An et al. (2019) South Korea Tomato paste Lycopene 0–17.0 ↑ egg production↑ yolk lycopene
Grela et al. (2020) Poland Alfalfa β-Carotene 0–30.0 ↑ yolk color and PUFA
Moeini et al. (2013) Iran Red pepper, marigold Zeaxanthin and lutein 0–3.0 ↑ yolk color↓ cholesterol
Oliveira et al. (2017) Brazil Red pepper, marigold Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–7.0 ↑ yolk color
Moreno et al. (2020) Spain New maize gen (Ph3, BKT) β-Carotene 0–62.06 ↑ yolk color
Tufarelli et al. (2021) Italy Dried tomato pomace Lycopene 0–15.0 No significant effect
Krawczyk et al. (2015) Poland Lupinus luteus β-Carotene 0–300.0 ↑ yolk color and final body weight
Kotrbáček et al. (2013) Czech Republic Chlorella algae Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–20.0 ↑ yolk color↑ yolk carotenoid
Bidura et al. (2020) Indonesia Moringa oleifera leaves β-Carotene 0–6.0 ↑ performance, egg quality↓ yolk cholesterol
Kulshreshtha et al. (2017) Canada Chondrus crispus and Sarcodiotheca sp. Carotene 0–40.0 ↑ immunity↓ radical effect
Zhu et al. (2021) China Phaffia rhodozyma Astaxanthin 0–1.6 ↑ yolk color, immunity↓ MDA blood
Ao et al. (2015) USA Schizochytrium limacinum Carotene 0–30.0 ↑ egg yolk color and DHA
Ekmay et al. (2015) USA Desmodesmus spp., Staurosira spp. Carotene 0–117.0 ↑ digestion in ileum↑ protein metabolism
Magnuson et al. (2018) USA Haematococcus pluvialis(algae) Astaxanthin 0–0.08 ↑ yolk carotenoid↓ free radicals
Rutkowski et al. (2017) Poland L. luteus L. Xanthophyll 0–250.0 ↓ performance↑ yolk color
Al-Nedawi et al. (2014) Iraq Fruit extracts Lycopene and carotene 0–0.20 ↑ egg production↑ egg quality
Omri et al. (2017) Tunis Linseed, tomato, paprika, fenugreek Carotene 0–45.0 ↑ egg weight and feed intake
Altuntaş and Aydin (2014) Turkey Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–20.0 ↑ SFA↓ MUFA
Sriagtula et al. (2019) Indonesia Indigofera leaves Xanthophyll 0–6.00 No significant effect
Sun et al. (2020) China Fermented Rhodotorula mucilaginosa β-Carotene 0–12.5 ↑ performance↑ yolk color
Duru et al. (2017) Turkey Daucus carota leaves Capsanthin and capsaicin 0–8.00 ↑ internal and external egg quality
Titcomb et al. (2019) USA Marigold, carrot leaves Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–40.0 ↑ yolk carotenoid↑ yolk color
Shevchenko et al. (2021) Ukraine Haematococcus algae, LycoRed Lycopene, astaxanthin 0–0.09 ↑ yolk color↑ egg quality
Englmaierová et al. (2013) Czech Republic Lutein, chlorella Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–12.5 ↑ yolk color↑ shell strength
Laudadio et al. (2014) Italy Alfalfa β-Carotene 0–150.0 ↑ yolk carotenoid↑ yolk color
Skřivan et al. (2015) Czech Republic Marigold flowers Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–0.35 ↑ yolk color↑ egg quality
Zheng et al. (2019) China Alfalfa β-Carotene 0–100.0 ↓ yolk cholesterol↑ yolk color
Salajegheh et al. (2012) Iran Tomato Lycopene 0–190.0 ↑ egg yolk color
Panaite et al. (2021) Romania Kapia pepper, sea buckthorn, carrot β-Carotene 0–20.0 ↑ egg yolk color
Honda et al. (2020) Japan Paracoccus carotinifaciens Panaferd-AX dan P Astaxanthin 0–0.008 ↑ egg yolk color and egg quality
Spasevski et al. (2018) Serbia Dried carrot, paprika Carotene 0–15.0 ↑ performance↑ yolk carotenoid
Grčević et al. (2019) Croatia Marigold flowers Lutein 0–2.00 ↑ egg yolk color
Shahsavari (2015) Iran Paprika, carrot, alfalfa, tomato Oxycarotenoid (xanthophyll) 0–50.0 No significant effect
Siti et al. (2019) Indonesia M. oleifera leaves β-Carotene 0–60.0 ↑ shell thickness↑ egg yolk color
Skřivan et al. (2016) Czech Republic Marigold flower Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–0.95 ↑ egg yolk color
Panaite et al. (2019) Romania Dried tomato waste Lycopene 0–75.0 ↑ yolk carotenoid and color
King and Griffin (2015) USA Tomato pomace Lycopene 0–10.0 No-significant effect
Bidura et al. (2021) Indonesia Fermented carrot leaves Carotene 0–60.0 ↑ yolk color↓ yolk cholesterol
Spasevski et al. (2017) Serbia Marigold flowers, paprika Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–15.0 ↑ egg yolk color
Saleh et al. (2021) Egypt Paprika Lutein and zeaxanthin 0–4.00 ↑ yolk color, fatty acids↑ egg production
Akdemir et al. (2012) Turkey Tomato Lycopene 0–10.0 ↑ egg quality↓ FCR
Habanabashaka et al. (2014) Rwanda Tomato (peel and seed) waste meal Lycopene 0–9.00 ↑ yolk color and carotenoid↓ yolk cholesterol
Walker et al. (2012) USA Algae astaxanthin Astaxanthin 0–2.94 ↑ egg weight
Omri et al. (2019) Tunis Arthrospira platensis β-Carotene 0–2.50 ↑ egg yolk color, HU
Tamiru et al. (2021) Belgium Papaya pomace β-Carotene 0–7.50 ↑ egg production, yolk color↓ feed cost
↑, increase; ↓, decrease.
MDA, malondialdehyde; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; SFA, saturated fatty acid; MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acid; FCR, feed conversion ratio; HU, Haugh unit.