Abstract
Modern broiler chickens are incredibly efficient, but they accumulate more adipose tissue than is physiologically necessary due to inadvertent consequences of selection for rapid growth. Accumulation of excess adipose tissue wastes feed in birds raised for market, and it compromises well-being in broiler-breeders. Studies driven by the obesity epidemic in humans demonstrate that the fatty acid profile of the diet influences adipose tissue growth and metabolism in ways that can be manipulated to reduce fat accretion. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) can inhibit adipocyte differentiation, induce fatty acid oxidation, and enhance energy expenditure, all of which can counteract the accretion of excess adipose tissue. This mini-review summarizes efforts to counteract the tendency for fat accretion in broilers by enriching the diet in n-3 PUFA.
Highlights
Poultry meat is a major source of protein for much of the world
Mice born from n-3 PUFA and Fat Deposition dams with low n-6/n-3 ratios due to genetic manipulation had half the body fat, increased energy expenditure and fatty acid oxidation, and more but smaller adipocytes as adults compared to mice born to wild type dams (Rudolph et al, 2018)
Several studies have utilized the relationship between fatty acids in the hen diet and those of the embryo to demonstrate the potential for developmental programming by n-3 PUFA in chickens
Summary
Poultry meat is a major source of protein for much of the world. Due to population growth, rising incomes, and concerns about both health and sustainability, global demand is expected to continue to grow around the globe. Higher maternal blood levels of n-3 vs n-6 PUFA during pregnancy have been associated with reduced body fat and increased leanness in children (Donahue et al, 2011; Vidakovic et al, 2016a,b). Experimental studies demonstrate that the relative abundance of n-6 vs n-3 fatty acids in the perinatal period influences adipogenesis and fat accretion.
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