Long-term supplementation of various dietary lipids alters bone mineral content, mechanical properties and histological characteristics of Japanese quail

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term supplementation of fat in the diets on the fatty acid composition, chemical, mechanical, and histological properties of tibial bone. Month-old male Japanese quail were fed a basal diet containing either soybean oil (SBO), hydrogenated soybean oil (HSBO), chicken fat (CF), or menhaden fish oil (FO) at 50 g/kg of the diet and maintained on these diets for 7 mo. Lipid treatments did not affect body weight, food intake, tibial length, or diameter. The FO diet group had the highest percentage of tibial ash, and both the FO and HSBO significantly increased tibial mineral content compared to those given SBO or CF. The type and amount of fatty acids in the diets had a profound influence on fatty acid composition of lipids in tibial cortical bones. Quail fed FO had the highest concentration of (n-3) fatty acids, and those fed SBO were highest in (n-6) fatty acids. The HSBO diet, containing high level of trans-fatty acids, led to the accumulation of these fatty acids in bone. In quail, long-term supplementation of FO or HSBO increased tibial shear force and shear stress and improved histological cortical thickness and density when compared to those given SBO or CF. These results suggest that long-term exposure to a FO or HSBO diet have a significant beneficial effect on bone metabolism.

The impact of incorporation of n-3 fatty acids into eggs on ovarian follicular development, immune response, antioxidative status and tibial bone characteristics in aged laying hens

“…A study by Johnston et al (2006) demonstrated similar findings in turkeys. However, in young birds, several studies have shown that dietary n-3PUFA has a positive effect on the development, growth and modeling of long bones in growing chicks (Watkins et al, 1997) and growing Japanese quail (Liu et al, 2003), which have a direct and important role in facilitating the mineralization of bone tissues and strength of bone (Liu et al 2003). Also, it is well established that dietary lipids can modulate the fatty acid profile in cartilage and bone tissues (Watkins et al, 1997).…”

“…Following bone breaking, the bone wall thickness was measured at the midpoint mark using the micrometer. To determine tibial ash content, bones were oven-dried at 1058C for 24 h and ashed in a muffle furnace at 6008C for 14 h following the procedure of Liu et al (2003). The percentage ash was determined relative to the dry weight of the tibia.…”

“…Several reports have revealed that supplementing n-3PUFA into the diet had no significant effects on egg production, egg weight and egg quality characteristics (Liu et al, 2003;Garcia-Rebollar et al, 2008;Da Silva et al, 2009). By contrast, Cortinas et al (2003) summarized that egg production was significantly higher when laying hens were fed diets containing 4% FO or flaxseed oil.…”

“…Numerous animal studies have shown that a higher ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids is associated with detrimental effects on bone health, and a lower ratio is associated with healthy bone properties (Watkins et al, 1997;Liu et al, 2003). Liu et al (2003) demonstrated that, in Japanese quail, long-term supplementation of n-3PUFA was beneficial to bone biomechanical properties that are involved in bone strength. In fact, among the studies dealing with the enrichment of eggs with n-3PUFA, to our knowledge, limited data have been published on ovarian follicular development and bone characteristics of older laying hens.…”

The effect of omega-3 enriched meat production on lipid peroxidation, antioxidative status, immune response and tibia bone characteristics in Japanese quail

“…Numerous animal studies have shown a positive effect of n-3 PUFA on bone mineral density, bone mineral content and bone strength. Liu et al (2003) found out significantly higher bone mineral density and bone strength in quails fed a FOsupplemented diet (high in n-3 PUFA) compared to a soybean oil diet group (high in n-6 PUFA).…”