Impact of different omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) sources (flaxseed, Isochrysis galbana, fish oil and DHA Gold) on n-3 LC-PUFA enrichment (efficiency) in the egg yolk

Four different omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) sources (flaxseed, Isochrysis galbana, fish oil and DHA Gold) were supplemented to the diet of laying hens in such a way that the same amount of extra n-3 PUPA (120 mg per 100 g feed) was added to the diet and enrichment of egg yolk with n-3 PUFA was monitored. The obtained n-3 long chain (LC)-PUPA enrichment was not as efficient for all n-3 PUFA sources. The lowest enrichment efficiency (approximate to 6%) was observed when flaxseed (a-linolenic acid source) was supplemented. Drastically higher n-3 LC-PUFA enrichment efficiencies were observed with supplementation of the n-3 LC-PUFA sources. However, for the n-3 LC-PUFA sources (fish oil, I. galbana and DHA Gold) differences in enrichment efficiencies were observed (approximate to 55%,approximate to 30% and approximate to 45%, respectively), mainly because of different bio-accessibility of the n-3 PUPA and different n-3 PUFA profiles of the three sources. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.