Livers of terrestrial production animals as a source of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids for humans: An alternative to fish?

Abstract

Long‐chain polyunsaturated n‐3 fatty acids (LC‐PUFA), including eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) are an essential part of human diets, but their main source, the wild fish catch, is limited. Terrestrial production animals, such as cattle, pigs, and chicken, can synthesize these compounds from the plant‐derived precursor α‐linolenic acid, and the synthesis occurs mainly in liver. We estimated the putative contribution of liver products to the LC‐PUFA supply in human nutrition, as an alternative to fish. We measured EPA and DHA contents in raw and cooked livers of the animals. Calculations of global production of EPA and DHA in the livers of these animals were done. Mean contents of LC‐PUFA in raw livers of chicken, pigs, and cattle were comparable with those in some fish. Culinary treatments of the liver did not result in a decrease of EPA and DHA contents. Global production of EPA and DHA in animals’ livers was estimated as ∼4 106 kg/year, while the global EPA + DHA supply through the wild fish catch is known to be 180 106 kg/year. Thus, liver of production animals is an additional source of LC‐PUFA for human nutrition, rather than an alternative to fish. Practical applications: Consumption of food with a high PUFA content and a low n‐6/n‐3 ratio is recommended for humans to prevent cardiovascular disease and psychiatric disorders. We found that cooked pork and beef liver is a valuable source of n‐3 LC‐PUFA in human nutrition. In contrast, cooked chicken liver had too high of a n‐6/n‐3 ratio and, thereby, had a lower nutritive value concerning n‐3 LC‐PUFA. An estimate has been made of the putative contribution of liver products of terrestrial animals to the LC‐PUFA supply as alternative to fish in human nutrition.

Fatty Acid Composition and Contents of Seven Commercial Fish Species of Genus Coregonus from Russian Subarctic Water Bodies

“…three times, when tissues were simultaneously homogenized with glass beads in a mortar [11]. three times, when tissues were simultaneously homogenized with glass beads in a mortar [11].…”

“…Lipids were extracted with chloroform/methanol (2:1, by vol.) three times, when tissues were simultaneously homogenized with glass beads in a mortar [11]. The extracts were dried with anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 , and chloroform and methanol were roto evaporated under vacuum at 35 °C.…”

“…To prevent many cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric disorders, a personal daily consumption of 0.5-1 g of EPA + DHA has been recommended by a number of national and international health organizations [5][6][7][8]. The main food source of EPA and DHA for most humans is fish [9][10][11][12]. However, various fish species differ in EPA and DHA contents in edible biomass by more than two orders of magnitude Abstract In several Russian northern lakes and rivers, Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis, least cisco C. sardinella, peled C. peled, tugun C. tugun, broad whitefish C. nasus, whitefish C. lavaretus and vendace C. albula were sampled in periods of officially permitted commercial fishery.…”

Fatty Acid Content and Composition of the Yakutian Horses and Their Main Food Source: Living in Extreme Winter Conditions

“…This may indicate limitation in PUFA synthesis in the horses' tissues. The contents of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 (% and mg/g wet weight) in the liver of the Yakutian horses and other horse breeds were significantly lower than in the liver of cows, pigs, and chickens [59]. The contents of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 (mg/g wet weight) in the meat of horses were the same as in beef and higher than in pork [53,60].…”

Lipid Composition of Autumn Cryofeed of Living Organisms in the Conditions of Yakutia

“…Травоядные животные, получив жирные масла и незаменимые ПНЖК вместе с пищей, способны синтезировать из них длинноцепочечные ПНЖК Омега-6 (арахидоновая кислота) и Омега-3 (эйкозапентаеновая и докозагексаеновая кислоты) [Gladyshev et al, 2015]. Повышенное содержание жирных масел у осенневегетирующих кормовых растений, по-видимому, является одной из главных причин быстрого накопления жира у травоядных животных в условиях холодного климата криолитозоны Якутии.…”