Fatty Acid Deposition Research Articles

Effect of pomegranate seed oil on egg production, egg quality and yolk fatty acid deposition in laying hen.

Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) contains punicic acid as well as conjugated linolenic acid isomers, including α-eleostearic and catalpic acids, along with phytosterols, especially β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol, with lipotropic impact and egg fortifying effect in laying hens. The present experiment was designed to examine the effects of PSO on egg production, egg quality, blood lipids and yolk fatty acid deposition in laying hens. A total of 360 Hy-line laying hens (w-80), at 25 weeks of age, were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design during a 10-week period. Experimental treatments consisted of a basal diet or supplementation of 1, 2, 3 and 4gPSO/kg to basal diet. Performance indicators and fatty acid composition of egg yolk were evaluated during different experimental periods. Blood lipid attributes were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Dietary supplementation of 4gPSO/kg feed increased daily feed intake and egg production rate of laying hens (p<0.05). There was not any significant influence of experimental treatments on egg quality, whereas an increasing trend observed in egg yolk colour of hens received dietary graded levels of PSO. Dietary supplemental 4g/kgPSO increased the proportion of yolk poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentration (p<0.05). Furthermore, the PUFA to saturated fatty acid ratio increased after dietary supplementation of 1 or 4g/kgPSO (p<0.05). Serum concentration of cholesterol, triacylglycerol and low-density lipoprotein decreased in response to the supplementation of more than 3gPSO/kg in the feed (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 4g/kgPSO improved production rate and decreased blood lipids in laying hens. Moreover, dietary supplemental PSO modified yolk fatty acid deposition without detrimental effects on the egg quality.

Relationship between rumen bacterial community and milk fat in dairy cows.

Milk fat is the most variable nutrient in milk, and recent studies have shown that rumen bacteria are closely related to milk fat. However, there is limited research on the relationship between rumen bacteria and milk fatty. Fatty acids (FAs) are an important component of milk fat and are associated with various potential benefits and risks to human health. In this experiment, forty-five healthy Holstein dairy cows with alike physiological and productive conditions were selected from medium-sized dairy farms and raised under the same feeding and management conditions. The experimental period was two weeks. During the experiment, raw milk and rumen fluid were collected, and milk components were determined. In this study, 8 high milk fat percentage (HF) dairy cows and 8 low milk fat percentage (LF) dairy cows were selected for analysis. Results showed that the milk fat percentage in HF group was significantly greater than that of the dairy cows in the LF group. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the rumen bacterial abundance of HF dairy cows was significantly higher than that in LF dairy cows; at the genus level, the bacterial abundances of Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Ruminococcus_1, Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group, Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group, probable_genus_10 and U29-B03 in HF group were significantly higher than those in the LF group. Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated that milk fat percentage was positively related to Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Ruminococcus_1, Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group, Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group, probable_genus_10 and U29-B03. Furthermore, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 was positively related to C14:0 iso, C15:0 iso, C18:0, Ruminococcus_1 with C18:1 t9, Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group with C18:1 t9 and C18:1 t11, U29-B03 with C15:0 iso. To sum up, rumen bacteria in dairy cows are related to the variation of milk fat, and some rumen bacteria have potential effects on the deposition of certain fatty acids in raw milk.

Obese Ningxiang pig-derived microbiota rewires carnitine metabolism to promote muscle fatty acid deposition in lean DLY pigs

The gut microbiota consistently shows strong correlations with lipid metabolism in humans and animals, and whether the gut microbiota contributes to muscle fatty acid (FA) deposition and meat traits in farm animals has not been fully resolved. In this study, we aimed to unveil the microbial mechanisms underlying muscle FA deposition in pigs. First, we systematically revealed the correlation between the gut microbiome and muscle FA levels in 43 obese Ningxiang pigs and 50 lean Duroc Landrace Yorkshire (DLY) pigs. Mutual fecal microbial transplantation showed that the obese Ningxiang pig-derived microbiota increased the muscle FA content and improved meat quality by reshaping the gut microbial composition in lean DLY pigs. Lactobacillus reuteri has been identified as a potential microbial biomarker in obese Ningxiang pig-derived microbiota-challenged DLY pigs. A gavage experiment using lean DLY pigs confirmed that L. reuteri XL0930 isolated from obese Ningxiang pigs was the causal species that increased the muscle FA content. Mechanistically, SLC22A5, a carnitine transporter, was downregulated in L. reuteri XL0930-fed DLY pigs, resulting in reduced muscle carnitine levels. Muscle and intestinal L-carnitine levels, which correlated with the muscle FA content, impeded fat synthesis and FA accumulation in invitro and invivo models. In conclusion, we uncovered an unexpected and important role of the obese Ningxiang pig-derived microbiota in regulating muscle FA metabolism via the SLC22A5-mediated carnitine system.

Dietary supplementation with synthetic astaxanthin and DHA interactively regulates physiological metabolism to improve the color and odor quality of ovaries in adult female Eriocheir sinensis

The present study aimed to investigate the interactive effects of dietary supplementation to the feed with astaxanthin and/or DHA on the color and odor of Eriocheir sinensis ovaries. The results revealed that astaxanthin supplementation significantly increased redness of E. sinensis ovaries (P < 0.05). Moreover, the addition of either astaxanthin or DHA alone to the feed affected the deposition of carotenoids and fatty acids in E. sinensis ovaries. More importantly, the simultaneous supplementation of astaxanthin and DHA significantly improved color, carotenoid content, and polyunsaturated fatty acid content (P < 0.05) in E. sinensis ovaries, as well as increased the content of aroma compounds during thermal processing. Based on the present findings, the optimal combination of dietary astaxanthin and DHA is 100 mg/kg of synthetic astaxanthin and 0.15% of DHA, respectively, which could improve color and odor quality of ovaries for E. sinensis.

Blood lipid profiles, fatty acid deposition and expression of hepatic lipid and lipoprotein metabolism genes in laying hens fed palm oils, palm kernel oil, and soybean oil.

The palm oil, palm kernel oil and soybean oil have unique and distinctive fatty acid chain length and saturation profiles, and how they affect lipid peroxidation, fatty acid intake and metabolism is worth exploring in poultry. This study elucidated the influence the dietary oils on lipid peroxidation, blood lipid profiles, fatty acid deposition of liver, serum and yolk and the expression of liver genes related to lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in laying hens. About 150 Hisex brown laying hens were fed diets containing crude palm oil (CPO), red palm oil (RPO), refined palm oil (RBD), palm kernel oil (PKO) or soybean oil (SBO) for 16 weeks. Serum, liver and yolk lipid peroxidation were not different between dietary oils. The PKO increased liver, serum and yolk medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). There was no difference in liver saturated fatty acids (SFA). The CPO and RPO reduced serum SFA, but the PKO increased yolk SFA. The SBO increased polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in liver serum and yolk. No difference in liver elaidic acid (C18:1-trans), but SBO lowered elaidic acid (C18:1-trans) in serum. Higher very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) in CPO than RPO and SBO and greater serum lipase in CPO, RBD and PKO than SBO. There was no difference in sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-II) between oils. Apolipoprotein VLDL-II (APOVLDL2) was upregulated in palm oils and apolipoprotein B-100 (APOB) in RBD. Downregulation in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) was observed in palm oils and PKO. In conclusion, different dietary oils greatly influence several aspects of fatty acid metabolism, deposition and lipoprotein profiles but have no influence on reducing lipid peroxidation.

Antioxidant Enzyme System Modulation by Dietary Palm Oils, Palm Kernel Oil and Soybean Oil in Laying Hens.

Palm-based oils (palm oil and kernel oil) and soybean oil have unique fatty acid and antioxidant profiles based on the compounds present in them. Hence, this study elucidated the antioxidant properties of crude palm oil (CPO), red palm oil (RPO), refined palm oil (RBD), palm kernel oil (PKO) and soybean oil (SBO) and the influence of dietary oils on blood lipid profiles, tissue fatty acid deposition and the expression of hepatic lipid and lipoprotein metabolism genes in laying hens. The oils were analyzed for color, beta-carotene, free fatty acid and acid value, phenolic content and lipid peroxidation. In an in vivo trial, 150 laying hens were allotted into five groups and supplemented with either CPO, RPO, RBD, PKO or SBO for 16 weeks. High antioxidant compounds present in palm oils help reduce the oxidation of oils. Dietary supplementation with palm oils, particularly CPO and RPO, contributed to the lower liver, serum and jejunal mucosal antioxidant enzyme activities. The antioxidant enzyme genes in the jejunal mucosa were downregulated in palm oils and PKO, but there was no difference between oils in antioxidant enzyme genes in the liver. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with oils with high antioxidant content contributed to protection against oxidation and was associated with a lower requirement for producing antioxidant enzymes.

Effects of linseed oil supplementation duration on fatty acid profile and fatty acid metabolism-related genes in the muscles of Chinese crested white ducks

Meat rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids is considered beneficial to health. Supplementing the diet with linseed oil promotes the deposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in poultry, a conclusion that has been confirmed multiple times in chicken meat. However, fewer studies have focused on the effects of dietary fatty acids on duck meat. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of the feeding time of a linseed oil diet on duck meat performance and gene expression, including meat quality performance, plasma biochemical indicators, fatty acid profile, and gene expression. For this study, we selected 168 Chinese crested ducks at 28 days old and divided them into three groups, with 56 birds in each group. The linseed oil content in the different treatment groups was as follows: the control group (0% flaxseed oil), the 14d group (2% linseed oil), and the 28d group (2% linseed oil). Ducks in the two experimental groups were fed a linseed oil diet for 28 and 14 days at 28 and 42 days of age, respectively. The results showed that linseed oil had no negative effect on duck performance (slaughter rate, breast muscle weight, and leg muscle weight) or meat quality performance (pH, meat color, drip loss, and shear force) (P > 0.05). The addition of linseed oil in the diet increased plasma total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P < 0.05), while decreasing triglyceride content (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the supplementation of linseed oil for four weeks affected the composition of muscle fatty acids. Specifically, levels of α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid were increased (P < 0.05), while eicosatetraenoic acid content was negatively correlated with flaxseed oil intake (P < 0.05). qRT-PCR analysis further revealed that the expression of FATP1, FABP5, and ELOVL5 genes in the breast muscle, as well as FABP3 and FADS2 genes in the thigh muscle, increased after four weeks of linseed oil supplementation (P < 0.05). However, after two weeks of feeding, CPT1A gene expression inhibited fatty acid deposition, suggesting an increase in fatty acid oxidation (P < 0.05). Overall, the four-week feeding time may be a key factor in promoting the deposition of n-3 PUFAs in duck meat. However, the limitation of this study is that it remains unknown whether longer supplementation time will continue to affect the deposition of n-3 PUFAs. Further experiments are needed to explain how prolonged feeding of linseed oil will affect the meat quality traits and fatty acid profile of duck meat.

Dietary ribose supplementation improves flesh quality through purine metabolism in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

Since the aquaculture industry is currently observing a deterioration in the flesh quality of farmed fish, the use of nutrients as additives to improve the flesh quality of farmed fish species is a viable strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary D-ribose (RI) on the nutritional value, texture and flavour of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Four diets were formulated containing exogenous RI at 4 gradient levels: 0 (Control), 0.15% (0.15RI), 0.30% (0.30RI) and 0.45% (0.45RI). A total of 240 fish (150±0.31g) were randomly distributed into 12 fibreglass tanks (150L per tank). Triplicate tanks were randomly assigned to each diet. The feeding trial was carried out in an indoor recirculating aquaculture system for 60d. After the feeding trial, the muscle and liver of gibel carp were analysed. The results showed that RI supplementation did not result in any negative impact on the growth performance and 0.30RI supplementation significantly increased the whole-body protein content compared to the control group. The contents of collagen and glycogen in muscle were enhanced by RI supplementation. The alterations in the flesh indicated that RI supplementation improved the texture of the flesh in terms of its water-holding capacity and hardness, therefore improving the taste. Dietary RI facilitated the deposition of amino acids and fatty acids in the muscle that contributed to the meaty taste and nutritional value. Furthermore, a combination of metabolomics and expression of key genes in liver and muscle revealed that 0.30RI activated the purine metabolism pathways by supplementing the substrate for nucleotide synthesis and thereby promoting the deposition of flavour substance in flesh. This study offers a new approach for providing healthy, nutritious and flavourful aquatic products.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 improved growth performance, bone characteristics and polyunsaturated fatty acid deposition by activating calcium ion channel proteins expression in growing pigs

The study was conducted to evaluate effects of short-term or long-term administration of 25- hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)VD3] on growth performance, bone characteristics, meat quality in growing pigs. A total of 144 pigs were allocated into three groups and fed diet contained 2000 IU vitamin D3 (VD3) or 25(OH)VD3 for a short-term and long-term administration. The results showed that long-term 25(OH)VD3 administration increased BW on d 56 and average daily gain in d 28–56. Furthermore, long-term feeding increased bone calcium content and mRNA expressions of calcium ion channel protein and anti-oxidases genes in the liver. In short, adding 25(OH)VD3 to the diet improved weight gain, bone characteristics, deposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant capacity compared with the VD3, while the long-term feeding of 25(OH)VD3 was particularly effective focusing on calcium deposition and mRNA expression of GPx1, Cu/Zn SOD and CaBP-D9K.

Lipo-nutritional quality of pork: The lipid composition, regulation, and molecular mechanisms of fatty acid deposition.

Pork is one of the main meats consumed by people, and its nutritional value is closely related to human health. The lipid deposition and composition of pork not only affect the sensory quality but also determine the nutritional quality of pork. The lipids in pork include triglycerides (TAG) and a small amount of cholesterol and phospholipids. TAG are the main lipids in skeletal muscle fat, which is divided into intermuscular fat and intramuscular fat (IMF). In addition to TAG, IMF also contains phospholipids, which are important factors affecting pork flavour. There are three types of fatty acids in TAG: saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). PUFA, such as n-3 PUFA, have a beneficial effect on health, including the regulation of whole-body energy metabolism and protection against cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, regulating lipid deposition, especially the fatty acid composition, in pork is important for improving the nutritional quality for human health. Notably, several strategies, such as breeding, environmental control, and the nutritional regulation of lipid composition and deposition in pork, have been studied. More recently, faecal transplantation, molecular design breeding and non-coding RNA have been studied and proven useful for regulating lipid deposition in pigs. In this review, we mainly summarized and discussed the research findings to date on the lipid composition and regulation mechanisms of fatty acid deposition and provide new insights into efficient means of improving the lipid composition and lipo-nutritional quality of pork.

Effects of Royal Jelly on Gut Dysbiosis and NAFLD in db/db Mice.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a naturally occurring substance synthesized by honeybees and has various health benefits. Herein, we focused on the medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) unique to RJ and evaluated their therapeutic efficacy in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We examined db/m mice that were exclusively fed a normal diet, db/db mice exclusively fed a normal diet, and db/db mice fed varying RJ quantities (0.2, 1, and 5%). RJ improved NAFLD activity scores and decreased gene expression related to fatty acid metabolism, fibrosis, and inflammation in the liver. RJ regulated innate immunity-related inflammatory responses in the small intestine and decreased the expression of genes associated with inflammation and nutrient absorption transporters. RJ increased the number of operational taxonomic units, the abundance of Bacteroides, and seven taxa, including bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids. RJ increased the concentrations of RJ-related MCFAs (10-hidroxy-2-decenoic acid, 10-hydroxydecanoic acid, 2-decenedioic acid, and sebacic acid) in the serum and liver. These RJ-related MCFAs decreased saturated fatty acid deposition in HepG2 cells and decreased the gene expression associated with fibrosis and fatty acid metabolism. RJ and RJ-related MCFAs improved dysbiosis and regulated the expression of inflammation-, fibrosis-, and nutrient absorption transporter-related genes, thereby preventing NAFLD.

The Effect of Increasing Concentrations of Omega-3 Fatty Acids from either Flaxseed Oil or Preformed Docosahexaenoic Acid on Fatty Acid Composition, Plasma Oxylipin, and Immune Response of Laying Hens

BackgroundThere is a lack of nutrition guidelines for the feeding of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to laying hens. Knowledge as to whether the type and concentrations of α-linolenic acid (ALA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the diet can make a difference to the birds’ immune responses when subjected to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge is limited. ObjectivesThe study was designed to determine the potential nutritional and health benefits to laying hens when receiving dietary omega-3 PUFA from either ALA or DHA. MethodsA total of 80 Lohmann LSL-Classic (white egg layer, 20 wk old) were randomly assigned to 1 of 8 treatment diets (10 hens/treatment), provided 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, or 0.8% of total dietary omega-3 PUFA, provided as either ALA-rich flaxseed oil or DHA-enriched algal biomass. After an 8-wk feeding period, the birds were challenged with Escherichia coli-derived LPS (8 mg/kg; i.v. injection), with terminal sample collection 4 h after challenge. Egg yolk, plasma, liver, and spleen samples were collected for subsequent analyses. ResultsIncreasing dietary omega-3 supplementation yielded predictable responses in egg yolk, plasma, and liver fatty acid concentrations. Dietary intake of ALA contributed mainly to ALA-derived oxylipins. Meanwhile, eicosapentaenoic acid- and DHA-derived oxylipins were primarily influenced by DHA dietary intake. LPS increased the concentrations of almost all the omega-6 PUFA-, ALA-, and DHA-derived oxylipins in plasma and decreased hepatic mRNA expression of COX-2 and 5-LOX (P < 0.001) involved in the biosynthesis of oxylipins. LPS also increased mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokine IFN-γ and receptor TLR-4 (P < 0.001) in the spleen. ConclusionsThese results revealed that dietary intake of ALA and DHA had unique impacts on fatty acid deposition and their derived oxylipins and inflammatory responses under the administration of LPS in laying hens.

Exploring the Effects of Wetting and Free Fatty Acid Deposition on an Atomistic Hair Fiber Surface Model Incorporating Keratin-Associated Protein 5-1.

The complex development of cosmetic and medical formulations relies on an ever-growing accuracy of predictive models of hair surfaces. Hitherto, modeling efforts have focused on the description of 18-methyl eicosanoic acid (18-MEA), the primary fatty acid covalently attached to the hair surface, without explicit modeling of the protein layer. Herein, the molecular details of the outermost surface of the human hair fiber surface, also called the F-layer, were studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The F-layer is composed primarily of keratin-associated proteins KAP5 and KAP10, which are decorated with 18-MEA on the outer surface of a hair fiber. In our molecular model, we incorporated KAP5-1 and evaluated the surface properties of 18-MEA through MD simulations, resulting in 18-MEA surface density, layer thickness, and tilt angles in agreement with previous experimental and computational studies. Subsequent models with reduced 18-MEA surface density were also generated to mimic damaged hair surfaces. Response to wetting of virgin and damaged hair showed rearrangement of 18-MEA on the surface, allowing for water penetration into the protein layer. To demonstrate a potential use case for these atomistic models, we deposited naturally occurring fatty acids and measured 18-MEA's response in both dry and wet conditions. As fatty acids are often incorporated in shampoo formulations, this work demonstrates the ability to model the adsorption of ingredients on hair surfaces. This study illustrates, for the first time, the complex behavior of a realistic F-layer at the molecular level and opens up the possibility of studying the adsorption behavior of larger, more complex molecules and formulations.

Lipid Deposition Profiles Influence Foreign Body Responses.

Fibrosis remains a significant cause of failure in implanted biomedical devices and early absorption of proteins on implant surfaces has been shown to be a key instigating factor. However, lipids can also regulate immune activity and their presence may also contribute to biomaterial-induced foreign body responses (FBR) and fibrosis. Here it is demonstrated that the surface presentation of lipids on implant affects FBR by influencing reactions of immune cells to materials as well as their resultant inflammatory/suppressive polarization. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) is employed to characterize lipid deposition on implants that are surface-modified chemically with immunomodulatory small molecules. Multiple immunosuppressive phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin) are all found to deposit preferentially on implants with anti-FBR surface modifications in mice. Significantly, a set of 11 fatty acids is enriched on unmodified implanted devices that failed in both mice and humans, highlighting relevance across species. Phospholipid deposition is also found to upregulate the transcription of anti-inflammatory genes in murine macrophages, while fatty acid deposition stimulated the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. These results provide further insights into how to improve the design of biomaterials and medical devices to mitigate biomaterial material-induced FBR and fibrosis.

Effects of Ewe’s Diet Supplementation with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Meat Lipid Profile of Suckling Lambs

Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) deposition in lambs’ muscles could be influenced by their mothers’ diet. The aim was to study the profile of fatty acids in the muscle of lambs from ewes supplemented with different sources of PUFA to achieve a healthier meat for the consumer. On day 100 of gestation, pregnant ewes grazed on natural grass were divided into three groups (n = 20) and supplemented with PUFA: Group A: 700 g of a ration rich in PUFA, Group B: 700 g of a ration for sheep + 20 mL of fish oil and Group C: 700 g of the same ration. After parturition, each group was subdivided: ten ewes continued with the same diet until the end of lactation; the other ten were fed only natural grass. The values of n-3 and n-6 PUFA and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) were analyzed in Longissimus lumborum muscles of lambs at 90 and 120 days of life. The feeding of ewes during lactation favorably influenced the lipid profile of the lamb muscle, increasing the concentration of n-3 and n-6 PUFA, ALA, LA, AA, DHA and EPA. The supplementation of ewes with fish oil and/or a ration rich in PUFA improved the LA/ALA ratio in lambs’ meat.

Effect of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride and Zinc Methionine on Growth, Carcass Traits, Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Profile and Gene Expression in Longissimus dorsi Muscle of Sheep in Intensive Fattening

Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) redistributes ingested energy and improves feed efficiency by increasing muscle mass and reducing fat in sheep and cattle carcasses in fattening; however, by increasing lipolysis and reducing intramuscular fat (IMF), it can affect meat quality in terms of the attributes of tenderness, juiciness, taste and color; in contrast, Zn methionine (ZM), due to its lipogenic effect, can improve meat marbling without affecting production efficiency. In the current study, 36 male Suffolk sheep were used (25 ± 0.58 kg live weight, LW) to evaluate the supply of ZH and ZM on growth, carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid content and expression of genes which regulate the deposition of fatty acids (FA) in IMF. A completely randomized design was used, with factorial arrangement of 2 × 2 ZH (0 and 0.2 mg kg−1 LW) and ZM (0 and 80 mg Zn kg−1 dry matter, DM). The results showed that ZH increased (p &lt; 0.05) carcass yield, compactness index and chop eye area and decreased greasing (p &lt; 0.02). The content of ether extract in meat increased (p &lt; 0.05) in sheep with ZM plus ZH, and in sheep with ZM (p &lt; 0.01). ZH (p &lt; 0.05) reduced (p &lt; 0.02) the meat’s color index L*, a*, b*, C* and H*. The content in IMF of stearic (C18:0) and arachidic (C20:0) FA was reduced (p ≤ 0.05) by the effect of ZH, but the palmitoleic (C16:1), eicosatetraenoic (C20:4n6) and conjugated linoleic FA were increased (p ≤ 0.05) by the effect of ZH. ZM increased (p ≤ 0.05) palmitoleic (C16:1) and conjugated linoleic FA; the ZH interaction with ZM increased (p ≤ 0.05) linoleic (C18:2 c 9 c 12), linolenic (C18:3 c 9c12c15) and eicosatetraenoic (C20:4n6) FA. The ZH interaction with ZM influenced (p ≤ 0.05) the total saturated fatty acids (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PFA). ZH increased (p ≤ 0.05) the relative expression of mRNA from the enzymes lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), glycerol -3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT1) and diglyceride acyltransferase (DGAT1). ZM increased (p ≤ 0.05) the relative expression of mRNA from the enzyme gene acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and HSL, monoglyceride lipase (MGL). The ZM interaction with ZH increased (p ≤ 0.05) the relative expression of mRNA genes of the enzymes HSL and ACC. It was concluded that ZH improved feed conversion (FC), increased yield and reduced fat in carcasses; ZM increased IMF in Longissimus dorsi. ZH and ZM influenced the FA composition, reduced the SFA and increased the UFA and PFA; both additives also influenced the relative mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism.

Altering the ratio of palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids in dietary fat affects nutrient digestibility, plasma metabolites, growth performance, carcass, meat quality, and lipid metabolism gene expression of Angus bulls

This study evaluated the effects of changing the ratio of palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids in dietary fat on nutritional metabolism, growth performance, and meat quality of finishing Angus bulls. Bulls received the following three treatments: (1) a control diet without fat supplement (CON), (2) CON + mixed fatty acid supplement (58% C16:0 + 28% cis-9 C18:1; MIX), (3) CON + saturated fatty acid supplement (87% C16:0 + 10% C18:0; SFA). In summary, both fat treatment diets simultaneously increased saturated fatty acids C16:0 (P = 0.025), C18:0 (P < 0.001) and total monounsaturated fatty acids (P = 0.008) in muscle, thus balancing the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids in muscle. MIX diet increased the digestibility of dry matter (P = 0.014), crude protein (P = 0.038), and ether extract (P = 0.036). SFA diet increased the daily gain (P = 0.032) and intramuscular fat content (P = 0.043). The high content of C16:0 and C18:0 in the SFA diet promoted weight gain and fat deposition of beef cattle by increasing feed intake, up-regulating the expression of lipid uptake genes and increasing deposition of total fatty acids, resulting in better growth performance and meat quality.

Evaluating Rice Bran Oil as a Dietary Energy Source on Production Performance, Nutritional Properties and Fatty Acid Deposition of Breast Meat in Broiler Chickens.

The effects of rice bran oil (RBO) as an alternative dietary energy source on nutritional properties and fatty acid deposition in broiler chickens are scarce in the literature. One-day-old chickens (broiler Ross 308) were assigned in a completely randomized design with three treatment diets and nine replicates of four chickens per replicate. A basal control diet contained 4~5% palm oil (T1) in the starter and finisher phases, respectively. Treatments 2 to 3 were fed diets formulated with 50% (T2) and 100% (T3) of RBO as a fat source instead of palm oil (PO). Replacing dietary PO with RBO improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 6% (p = 0.017) over the total period of the experiment (1−38 d of age). The feeding of RBO (T3) showed the highest (p < 0.001) cooking loss values in the breast meat. However, compared with other groups, the blend of PO and RBO group (T2) displayed a lower cooking loss value in the thigh meat. In breast meat, the protein content was lowered (p = 0.007), while the fat content was higher (p < 0.001) in male broiler chickens fed dietary RBO (T2 and T3). Total inclusion of dietary RBO (T3) decreased (p = 0.034) the proportion of saturated fatty acids (ΣSFAs) but increased (p = 0.02) linoleic acid. In addition, α-linolenic acid (ALA) increased (p < 0.001) in male broiler chickens fed dietary RBO (T2 and T3), and the highest deposit level occurred by the total inclusion of RBO (T3). Total omega 3 fatty acids (∑n-3) increased (p = 0.013), while the ratio of n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) decreased (p = 0.046) in male broiler chickens fed dietary RBO (T3) as compared with the control diet (PO; T1). In conclusion, compared with dietary PO (control diet, T1), the total inclusion of dietary RBO at 50 kg/metric ton feed (T3) increased ∑n-3, ALA, and reduced n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio in the breast meat, but cooking loss values were larger in breast and thigh meats. The blend of dietary PO and RBO (T2) was better for both production performance targets (feed intake and FCR), cooking loss values, and deposition of ALA in the breast meat. The inclusion of dietary RBO into broiler diets needs further study, but the present experiment aids in expanding research knowledge to make that possible.

Metabolome and microbiome analysis revealed the effect mechanism of different feeding modes on the meat quality of Black Tibetan sheep.

Black Tibetan sheep is one of the primitive sheep breeds in China that is famous for its great eating quality and nutrient value but with little attention to the relationship between feeding regimes and rumen metabolome along with its impact on the muscle metabolism and meat quality. This study applies metabolomics-based analyses of muscles and 16S rDNA-based sequencing of rumen fluid to examine how feeding regimes influence the composition of rumen microbiota, muscle metabolism and ultimately the quality of meat from Black Tibetan sheep. Twenty-seven rams were randomly assigned to either indoor feeding conditions (SG, n = 9), pasture grazing with indoor feeding conditions (BG, n = 9) or pasture grazing conditions (CG, n = 9) for 120 days. The results showed that, compared with BG and CG, SG improved the quality of Black Tibetan sheep mutton by preventing a decline in pH and increasing fat deposition to enhance the color, tenderness and water holding capacity (WHC) of the Longissimus lumborum (LL). Metabolomics and correlation analyses further indicated that the feeding regimes primarily altered amino acid, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in muscles, thereby influencing the amino acid (AA) and fatty acid (FA) levels as well as the color, tenderness and WHC of the LL. Furthermore, SG increased the abundance of Christensenellaceae R-7 group, [Eubacterium] coprostanoligenes group, Methanobrevibacter, Ruminococcus 2 and Quinella, decreased the abundance of Lactobacillus, Prevotella 1 and Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, and showed a tendency to decrease the abundance of Succinivibrio and Selenomonas 1. Interestingly, all of these microorganisms participated in the deposition of AAs and FAs and modified the levels of different metabolites involved in the regulation of meat quality (maltotriose, pyruvate, L-ascorbic acid, chenodeoxycholate, D-glucose 6-phosphate, glutathione, etc.). Overall, the results suggest that feeding Black Tibetan sheep indoors with composite forage diet was beneficial to improve the mouthfeel of meat, its color and its nutritional value by altering the abundance of rumen bacteria which influenced muscle metabolism.

Effects of a high-fat diet on the growth performance, lipid metabolism, and the fatty acids composition of liver and skin fat in Pekin ducks aged from 10 to 40 days

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a high-fat diet on the growth performance, serum, liver, and skin lipid metabolism as well as the fatty acids composition of liver and skin fat in Pekin ducks from 10 to 40 d of age based on a pair-fed group. Two hundred forty healthy male ducks (10 d old, 470.53 ± 0.57 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups (8 replicates per cage of 10 ducks): a normal diet (ND, 3% fat), a high-fat diet (HFD, 9% fat), and a pair-fed diet (PFD, given the ND in an amount equal to that consumed of the HFD to eliminate the effects of feed intake). The results were as follows: compared to ND feeding, HFD feeding significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the feed intake and feed:gain ratio (F:G), along with serum triglyceride and nonesterified fatty acid contents. When compared with the ND and PFD, the HFD significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the liver weight and inhibited hepatic de novo lipogenesis (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase activities), β-oxidation (carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 content), and decreased saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids deposition. Moreover, the HFD significantly increased (P < 0.05) the total fat content, lipid droplet area, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content in the liver, as well as the abdominal fat weight, subcutaneous fat weight, the total fat and PUFAs content in skin fat. These results suggested that the HFD improved feed efficiency, which was related to HFD feeding inhibiting hepatic de novo lipogenesis and β-oxidation and promoting the deposition of fat in skin as well as altering the fatty acids composition of the liver and skin fat in Pekin ducks.