Effect of the dietary combination of flaxseed and Ricinodendron heudelotii or Punica granatum seed oil on the fatty acid profile of eggs

The health promoting omega-3, -7, and -5 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), rumenic acid (RmA), and alpha-eleostearic acid (alpha-ESA)/punicic acid (PunA), are not currently combined in frequently consumed food items. We have evaluated the impact of supplementing laying hens' feeds with flaxseeds combined with oil derived from seeds of either Ricinodendron heudelotii, an alpha-ESA source, or Punica granatum, a PunA source, on the egg fatty acid profile. The supplemented diets increased the egg content in ALA, DHA, RmA, as well as alpha-ESA or PunA. The combination of dietary lipids did not affect the conversion rate of ALA into DHA. Hens fed on R. heudelotii or P. granatum seed oil both accumulated RmA in egg yolk, indicating an efficient conversion from the alpha-ESA or PunA precursors through a Delta-13 reductase activity. The accumulation of PunA in eggs was largely higher than that of alpha-ESA.

Automated summary

This study showed that supplementing laying hens' feeds with flaxseeds combined with oil from Ricinodendron heudelotii or Punica granatum seeds can increase the egg content of beneficial fatty acids, without affecting the conversion rate of ALA to DHA. Both oils efficiently converted into RmA, with Punica granatum seed oil having a higher accumulation of PunA in eggs.