Assessment of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid profiles and ratio of omega-6/omega-3 of white eggs produced by laying hens fed diets enriched with omega-3 rich vegetable oil

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids in egg and the ratio of n-6/n-3 of white eggs produced by laying hens (Hy-Line white) fed diets enriched with n-3 fats. In this study, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) levels of the dietary treatments ranged from 0.3 to 6% energy. Grain-based diets containing a low linoleic acid (LA) content were selected to prepare a basal diet to optimize the conversion of ALA into n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). The results showed that the level of all n-3 LCPUFA in eggs improved (P < 0.01) by increasing the levels of dietary ALA. Importantly, eggs produced from laying hens fed diets containing 6%en ALA significantly increased (P < 0.01) the total of n-3 fats by approximately nine-fold. Diets enriched with ALA significantly reduced (P < 0.01) the ratio of n-6/n-3 of the eggs. The n-6/n-3 ratio of eggs decreased from 7.17% in the 0.3%en ALA diet to 1.29% in the 6%en ALA diet. In conclusion, white laying hens fed ALA-enriched diets produced eggs higher in n-3 fatty acids and lower n-6/n-3 ratio, which provides an alternative n-3 rich food for consumers and have beneficial health effects.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Assessment of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid profiles and ratio of omega-6/omega-3 of white eggs produced by laying hens fed diets enriched with omega-3 rich vegetable oil ; volume:9 ; number:1 ; year:2024 ; extent:8 ; Open agriculture ; 9, Heft 1 (2024) (gesamt 8)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Kartikasari, Lilik R. ; Geier, Mark S. ; Hughes, Robert J. ; Bastian, Susan E. P. ; Gibson, Robert A.

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0274
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2024040115352751871924
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:45 AM CEST