Effect of different microalgal n-3 PUFA supplementation doses on yolk color and n-3 LC-PUFA enrichment in the egg

© 2014 Elsevier B.V. To examine the effect of different omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) doses on the long chain (LC) n-3 PUFA enrichment in the egg yolk, Isochrysis galbana was supplemented in nine different doses (from 0 to 400. mg n-3 PUFAs per 100. g feed) to the diet of laying hens. A linear increase of the n-3 LC-PUFA enrichment was observed up to a dose of 120. mg n-3 PUFAs per 100. g feed. Higher n-3 PUFA supplementation doses resulted in a decreased efficiency of n-3 LC-PUFA incorporation into the egg yolk. Pronounced color changes were observed due to transfer of carotenoids from the microalgal biomass to the egg yolk. However, a corresponding linear trend in yolk color changes was not observed for the low supplementation doses when compared to the n-3 LC-PUFA changes in the egg yolk. The a*-value increased remarkably with supplementation of 3% Isochrysis (150. mg n-3 PUFAs per 100. g feed) and remained stable with the higher supplementation doses.publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Effect of different microalgal n−3 PUFA supplementation doses on yolk color and n−3 LC-PUFA enrichment in the egg journaltitle: Algal Research articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2014.10.007 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.status: publishe