Supplementary n-3 fatty acids sources on performance and formation of omega-3 in egg of laying hens: a meta-analysis

Abstract

A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of supplementary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) sources in the diet on the formation of some important n-3 PUFA contents in eggs and to assess factors contributing to the conversion efficiency of omega-3 in laying hens. A dataset was constructed from 34 studies examining the impact of dietary inclusion with ingredients rich in n-3 PUFA on fatty acids profile and production performance of laying hens. The eligibility criteria were developed to obtain studies reporting required information with sufficient quality. The mixed model methodology was employed where the “study” was set as random effects and fatty acid ( FA ) supplements as fixed effects. Several factors were included in the models as covariates. Discrete analysis for sources of FA was also performed to compare their effects on FA formation in eggs. Significant linear positive associations were observed between the concentration of α-linolenic acid ( ALA ), total n-3 PUFA, and the ratio of linoleic acid ( LA ) to ALA (LA/ALA) in diets with the formation of eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ), docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ), total n-3 PUFA, and n6/n3 ratio in egg ( P < 0.05) with different magnitudes. ALA and total n-3 PUFAs concentration had no relationship with cholesterol concentration, feed intake, and egg weight. Prediction models for DHA formation was higher for ALA as predictor variables (slope = 0.482; R 2 = 0.684) than n-3 PUFAs (slopes = 0.998, R 2 = 0.628). Significant interactions were found on the level of ALA × FA sources and n-3 PUFA × FA sources. Fish oil ( P = 0.0148, R 2 = 0.732) improved the prediction equation to estimate DHA formation. To conclude, levels of ALA, n-3 PUFA, and the ratio of LA/ALA can be used as predictor variables to estimate the formation of n-3 fatty acids in eggs. It was confirmed that although all n-3 FA sources had a positive correlation on DHA and n-3 PUFA deposition, however, fish oil showed the highest prediction model for DHA formation across all FA sources included in the dataset.

Dietary Supplementation with Different ω-6 to ω-3 Fatty Acid Ratios Affects the Sustainability of Performance, Egg Quality, Fatty Acid Profile, Immunity and Egg Health Indices of Laying Hens

“…These results indicate a gradual increase in yolk ω-3 deposition, reflecting the dietary increase in ω-3 intake by laying hens. In accordance with the present results, the fatty acid profile of the egg yolks of hens receiving diets with vegetable oils changes according to the dietary oil fed [4,[53][54][55][56][57]. Moreover, a gradual effect of the ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio in feed and egg yolk (15.99 and 2.34; 16.72 and 4.34, respectively) revealed that 3% of tuna oil supplementation was a good predictor of the ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio in yolk [55].…”

“…Additionally, the ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio in the egg yolk is directly related to the type of oil (soybean vs. linseed) and ω-6/ω-3 ratio (10.17 vs. 0.83) [56]. Irawan et al [57] reviewed the published literature and revealed a stepwise positive relationship among the levels of α-linolenic acid, total ω-3 PUFA, and the dietary ω-6/ω-3 ratio with the formation of EPA, DHA, total ω-3 PUFA, and the ω-6/ω-3 ratio in the eggs with various magnitudes. The intercept and the slope estimated for the dietary composition of ω-3 PUFA were 15.12 and -0.15, respectively, on ω-3-PUFA in eggs.…”

Docosahexaenoic Acid as the Bidirectional Biomarker of Dietary and Metabolic Risk Patterns in Chinese Children: A Comparison with Plasma and Erythrocyte

“…However, the intake of marine food for our population was low, and the plasma DHA had a strong correlation with animal food products in this study, especially for eggs. Eggs with a higher content of phospholipids offered enriched DHA, and its DHA was easily absorbed due to the high DHA content of sn-2 in phospholipids [ 41 , 42 ]. Furthermore, there were different dietary assessment methods, population characteristics, and variations in intake.…”

Evaluation of Megasphaera elsdenii supplementation on rumen fermentation, production performance, carcass traits and health of ruminants: a meta-analysis

“…To analyze the interaction, the same formula as above was employed but involving other covariates in the data, i.e., the type of livestock and the inoculation method. This model was assessed linearly as an interaction effect [ 26 ]. As for the quadratic model, when the results were not significant, the linear model was maintained.…”