Impact of feed supplementation with different omega-3 rich microalgae species on enrichment of eggs of laying hens

Abstract

Four different omega-3 rich autotrophic microalgae, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Nannochloropsis oculata, Isochrysis galbana and Chlorella fusca, were supplemented to the diet of laying hens in order to increase the level of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) in egg yolk. The microalgae were supplemented in two doses: 125 mg and 250 mg extra n-3 PUFA per 100g feed. Supplementing these microalgae resulted in increased but different n-3 LC-PUFA levels in egg yolk, mainly docosahexaenoic acid enrichment. Only supplementation of Chlorella gave rise to mainly α-linolenic acid enrichment. The highest efficiency of n-3 LC-PUFA enrichment was obtained by supplementation of Phaeodactylum and Isochrysis. Furthermore, yolk colour shifted from yellow to a more intense red colour with supplementation of Phaeodactylum, Nannochloropsis and Isochrysis, due to transfer of carotenoids from microalgae to eggs. This study shows that besides Nannochloropsis other microalgae offer an alternative to current sources for enrichment of hen eggs.

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

“…They obtained an n−3 LC-PUFA enrichment efficiency of 25% and 20% for the respective doses of 5% and 10% Nannochloropsis. A lower n−3 LC-PUFA incorporation efficiency was also observed in our previous study [4], where four different microalgae in two different doses (125 mg and 250 mg ALA + EPA + DHA per 100 g feed) were supplemented to the hens' diet. Carvalho et al [9] supplemented different amounts of DHA to the diet of the laying hens by the addition of salmon oil or the heterotrophic microalga Schizochytrium.…”

“…However, a clear distinction must be made regarding the enrichment of eggs with the shorter chain (C ≤ 18) PUFA (α-linolenic acid or ALA) and n−3 longer chain PUFAs or n−3 LC-PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA and docosahexaenoic acid or DHA) [1]. Since several health benefits are related to the content of n−3 LC-PUFAs instead of ALA, it is more interesting to raise the level of n−3 LC-PUFAs in the egg [2][3][4][5].…”

“…Enrichment of eggs with n−3 LC-PUFAs can be achieved by supplementing the feed with fish oil, a source of EPA and DHA. A more recent trend is to replace fish oil with heterotrophic and autotrophic microalgae [1,4,5]. Supplementation of diets with autotrophic microalgae provides the most environmentally sustainable approach to raising n−3 PUFA concentrations in eggs.…”

Technological development of functional egg products by an addition ofn-3 polyunsaturated-fatty-acid-enriched oil

“…However, in this work contents of 1.82 g/kg of eggderived product were obtained by adding a much lower concentration (0.42%) of fish oil. Bruneel et al (2013) and Lemahieu et al (2013) used different species of microalgae to manufacture feed for hens with different contents of EPA+DHA. After feeding hens with this n-3 PUFAs-enriched feeds, the maximum content of DHA+EPA found in eggs was 100 g/kg.…”

“…In this sense, previous studies have focused their work on supplementing hen feed with different sources of n-3 PUFAs, including the oils cited before (Carrillo et al, 2008;Fraeye et al, 2012;Lemahieu et al, 2013). However, due to their higher microbiological safety (Rossi, Casiraghi, Primavesi, Pompei, & Hidalgo, 2010) and ease of handling and storing compared to shelled eggs, the food service industry and commercial food manufacturers have shown an increasing interest in the use of liquid-pasteurized egg products instead of whole eggs (Miranda et al, 2015).…”