Journal
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
Volume 12, Issue 3-5, Pages 325-330Publisher
KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBL
DOI: 10.1023/A:1008102622276
Keywords
red microalga; Porphyridium sp.; algal biomass; feeding chickens; polyunsaturated fatty acids; egg yolk; cholesterol; triglycerides
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The biomass of the red alga Porphyridium sp. constitutes a unique combination of soluble sulfated polysaccharide that accounts for about 70% of the algal dry weight, and various polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid (AA, 20:4 omega6 and EPA, 20:5 omega3). In view of earlier results in our laboratory showing a reduction in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rodents fed with red algal biomass, we set out to examine the influence of algal biomass as a feed additive on the metabolism of chickens, with an emphasis on blood and egg cholesterol levels. For that purpose, lyophilized algal biomass was fed to 12-13, 30-week-old, White Leghorn chickens for 10 days at a proportion of 5% or 10% of the standard chicken diet. Twelve chickens fed with unsupplemented diet served as the control. No differences in body weight, egg number, and egg weight were found between the algal-fed chickens (at both concentrations) and the control. However, chickens fed with algal biomass consumed 10% less food for both groups, and their serum cholesterol levels were significantly lower (by 11% and 28% for the groups fed with 5% and 10% supplement, respectively) as compared with the respective values of the control group. Egg yolk of chickens fed with algae tended to have reduced cholesterol levels (by 10%) and increased linoleic acid and arachidonic acid levels (by 29% and 24%, respectively). In addition, the color of the egg yolk was darker as a result of the higher carotenoid levels (2.4 fold higher) for chickens that fed with 5% supplement. These results encourage the development of an improved chicken feed having dietary fibers and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
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