Application of Metabolomics to Identify Hepatic Biomarkers of Foie Gras Qualities in Duck

Abstract

Foie gras is a traditional dish in France that contains 50 to 60% of lipids. The high-fat content of the liver improves the organoleptic qualities of foie gras and reduces its technological yield at cooking (TY). As the valorization of the liver as foie gras products is strongly influenced by the TY, classifying the foie gras in their potential technological quality before cooking them is the main challenge for producers. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify hepatic biomarkers of foie gras qualities like liver weight (LW) and TY. A group of 120 male mule ducks was reared and overfed for 6–12 days, and their livers were sampled and analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Eighteen biomarkers of foie gras qualities were identified, nine for LW and TY, five specific to LW, and four specific to TY. All biomarkers were strongly negatively correlated to the liver weights and positively correlated to the technological yield, except for the lactate and the threonine, and also for the creatine that was negatively correlated to foie gras technological quality. As a result, in heavy livers, the liver metabolism was oriented through a reduction of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms, and the plasma membrane could be damaged, which may explain the low technological yield of these livers. The detected biomarkers have been strongly discussed with the metabolism of the liver in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Slightly different metabolomic profiles are associated with high or low weight duck foie gras

“…In humans, Kalhan et al (2011) showed that plasmatic lactate levels were higher when hepatic steatosis developed [45]. Metabolomic studies performed on duck PLOS ONE livers fed for increasing lengths of time (between 6 and 12 days) showed a positive correlation between liver weight and lactate in plasma (r = 0.62) and in liver (r = 0.98) [16,32]. According to Murphy et al (2001), hyperlactatemia could be the result of cellular hypoxia or hypoperfusion with resulting anaerobic metabolism [46].…”

“…Recent studies on the proteins fraction have been carried out on two classes of liver weights, light (weights between 550 and 600 g) and heavy (weights over 700 g) and showed marked differences in energy metabolism, oxidative stress, lipids and proteins metabolisms and in the extracellular membrane reorganization [ 12 ]. Recent metabolomics studies performed on duck livers overfed at 12 weeks of age for different durations (6 or 12 days) have shown that when the duration of overfeeding increases, the average liver weight increases and the hepatic metabolism is oriented towards a reduction of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, and the plasma membrane could be damaged [ 16 ].…”

Regulation of the cecal microbiota community and the fatty liver deposition by the addition of brewers’ spent grain to feed of Landes geese

“…Therefore, geese are used extensively worldwide in the production of luxurious food based on their fatty liver products, e.g., foie gras. The foie gras is generally delicious and delicate in texture, favored by a large number of consumers worldwide, with an extremely large and increasing demand in the international market ( Mozduri et al, 2021 ). In particular, as a world-renowned breed dedicated to fatty livers, the Landes geese are very popular and highly adaptable to their environment ( Hermier et al, 1999 ; Mourot et al, 2000 ).…”