The enrichment of hen eggs with omega-3 fatty acids

A study was conducted to determine the omega-3 fatty acid compositions of enriched eggs obtained from hens by feeding flaxseed and fish oil. Laying hens were fed a diet containing fish oil (FOD) (1.5%) or a mixture of flaxseed (10%) and fish oil (FFOD) (1.5%) for 15 and 30 days. Another group was fed commercial diet as a control. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) were not determined in the control group's eggs. However, the EPA level was 0.87% and 0.82% in the FOD group's eggs and 0.49% and 0.55% in the FFOD group's eggs, obtained after a 15- and 30-day feeding period, respectively. Corresponding values for DPA were 0.45% and 0.50% in the FOD group's eggs and 0.41% and 0.44% in the FFOD group's eggs. Docosahexaenoic acid contents of eggs obtained from the FOD group were 4.85% and 4.92% after a 15- and 30-day feeding period, respectively, compared with 3.29% and 3.91% in the FFOD group's eggs and 1.03% in the control group's eggs. The alpha-linolenic acid content of eggs was 0.45% and 0.49% in the FOD group's eggs after a 15- and 30-day feeding period, respectively, and 0.43% in the control group's eggs, whereas it was 3.61% and 4.10%, respectively, in the FFOD group's eggs.