Egg Cholesterol Levels Research Articles

Fatty acid profiles and cholesterol of muscovy duck meats supplemented with cellulase, carnitine and fish oil

This present study was carried out to investigate the inclusion effect of carnitine, cellulase, and fish oil on fatty acids composition and cholesterol level of Muscovy duck eggs. A total of 120 Muscovy ducks in laying period were utilized and assigned into 4 dietary treatments, 5 replicates consisting of 6 ducks each, receiving treatments for 90 days. Experimental groups composed of T0 = basal ration, T1 = T0 supplemented with 0,1% cellulase, T2 = T1 supplemented with L-carnitine 40 ppm, and T3 = T2 supplemented with 4% tuna fish oil. This study revealed that the effects of fish oil and L-carnitine supplementation in rations containing cellulase enzyme significantly lower cholesterol level (P<0.01) of Muscovy duck eggs from 867.42 mg/dl to 712.33 mg/dl, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) from 28.33 to 22.12 mg/dl, saturated fatty acids from 30.88% to 25.02%. Meanwhile it increased the total concentration of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) from 71.67 to 77.88 mg/dl, unsaturated fatty acid from 69.12% to 74.98%, linolenic acids from 5.71% to 8.40%, and linoleic acids from 28.74% to 37.30%. A diet rich in cellulase enzyme, carnitine, and fish oil notably increased HDL level, along with the reduction of LDL and total cholesterol.

Changes in Egg Production, Egg Quality, Blood and Egg Cholesterol Levels with Age in Layer Hen

This study aims to investigate the changes in egg production, quality, and blood, and egg cholesterol levels with age and examine the relationship between these parameters. In this context, a total of 340 eggs were used obtained from 34-53 weeks-old Brown Nick layer hens. In the experiment, egg weight and egg production were daily, egg quality and cholesterol level was weekly measured for 20 weeks. The serum cholesterol level was determined at 34, 42 and 53 weeks. According to the research results, live weight, average egg weight, weekly total egg weight and weekly egg cholesterol level increased with age. Whereas the number of weekly eggs per animal was low at the beginning, it increased towards the middle and decreased towards the end of the experiment. Among the quality parameters, yolk weight, shell weight, shell breaking strength, average shell thickness, yolk index, L and a* value of yolk color, number of blood and flesh stains were affected by increasing age, whereas albumen weight, albumen index, Haugh Unit, shape index and yolk color b* value was unaffected. And the changes in serum and egg cholesterol levels were not significant at 34, 42 and 53 weeks. On the other hand, there was a significant relationship between egg yolk weight and egg yolk cholesterol and between egg weight and egg yolk weight. The results show that egg quality traits changed with age. It is necessary to focus on new studies to improve the internal and external quality of eggs in order to extend the holding period of commercial flocks and thus increase the operating profit.

Improvement of egg internal quality of local ducks through star gooseberry leaf meal inclusion in ration.

The use of dried star gooseberry leaf extract (DSGLE) in rations and its effects on the egg internal quality of local ducks were examined. A total of 100 9-month-old local ducks weighing 1,406.25 ± 211.32 gm were randomly allocated into 5 treatments and 5 replicates in a completely randomized design. The birds were reared in 25 battery cages (4 birds each) and fed rations containing 0, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% DSGLE. Eggs of ducks fed DSGLE had significantly lower saturated fatty acid (SFA) (30.66%-32.53%) than those of control ducks (36.23%). Egg polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increased from 2.29% (control) to 2.61% (2.0% DSGLE) and 2.76% (1.5% DSGLE), while egg monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) contents were not significantly different. The fatty acids of the whole edible part of eggs (albumen + yolk) were composed mainly of MUFA (40.19%-44.34%), followed by SFA (30.66%-36.22%), and PUFA (2.29%-2.76%). Malondialdehyde contents were reduced from 6.07 to 4.92 µg/gm (19%) in egg yolk and from 1.50 to 0.62 µg/gm (59%) in egg white, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values of the eggs were reduced from 0.93 to 1.65 (77%). The egg cholesterol level of ducks fed 2% DSGLE (21.94 mg/gm) was about 28.5% lower than that of eggs from control ducks (30.67 mg/gm) of eggs of control ducks. The egg white and egg yolk protein contents (12.31% and 16.35%) of treated ducks were lower than those in the control group (13.58% and 17.47%). The inclusion of SGLE in rations could be used to produce healthy duck eggs with no oxidative damage.

Dietary clove leaf meal supplementation: influence on egg qualities and reproductive morphometry of domestic laying birds

Abstract This study investigated the effects of dietary Syzygium aromaticum supplementation on egg qualities, egg cholesterol and reproductive morphometry of laying hens. Three experimental diets were formulated containing 0.00%, 0.25% and 0.50% Syzygium aromaticum leaf meal (SLM). One hundred and fifty (20 weeks old) Isa-Brown birds were randomly assigned to three-treatment group which comprised 50 birds replicated five times with 10 birds each. Six eggs were collected from each replicate three days to the end of the 1st cycle of laying (4 weeks), 2nd and 3rd cycles and properly labelled for egg qualities assessment. At the end of the 12 weeks feeding trial, 45 birds (3 birds per replicate, that is, 15 birds per treatment) were slaughtered and dissected to evaluate their reproductive parameters. The result showed positive dietary effect (P&lt;0.05) on shell thickness, yolk height, yolk index and egg mass. Cholesterol level of whole eggs, egg yolk and albumen were significantly lowered. Weight of entire reproductive tract and ovary as well as length of infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina were significantly increased by dietary SLM. Conclusively, clove supplementation at 0.25% and 0.50% could be adopted for improved egg shell thickness and low-cholesterol eggs in poultry production

Income Generation through Value Addition of Flower Crops: A Review

Value added floriculture is a process of increasing the economic value and consumer appeal of any floral commodity through processing and packaging diversification. The value addition for marketing flowers includes adoption of postharvest technology and improved logistics. Value- addition ensures high premium to the grower, while providing more acceptable quality products for the domestic and export market, and it provides the most important aspects of marketing and give the customers a reason to buy such products. Value addition reduces post-harvest losses and diversifies the economic base of rural communities. The value-added products can be classified into three categories namely fresh flower products, dried flower products and processed flower products. The success of floral industry lies upon by strengthening the fresh flower market through value addition. Dry flower value added products of flowers through different methods have shown promising results. Tinting of cut carnation with food dye Pink and Orange Red @ 5% recorded the fastest uptake of 1 hour Jasminum sambac flowers harvested at the fully open stage yielded better quality essential oil compared with flowers harvested at the closed bud stage. Marigold is one of the richest source of carotenoids especially lutein which possess antioxidant activities and moreover intake of lutein helps in curing age related macular diseases. Natural dyes are mostly used in the colouring of textiles, drugs, cosmetics, etc. Chrysanthemum petals can be used as a substitute of synthetic reactive dyes for dyeing of cotton and silk fabrics (Das et al., 2016). Marigold flower provides a source of carotenoids commercially used in food colouring industries and poultry feed high in carotenoids has been shown to increase performance and egg yolk color as well as decrease egg cholesterol levels.

Effects on Performance, Egg Quality Criteria and Cholesterol Level of Adding Different Ratios Flaxseed Oil Instead of Sunflower Oil to Compound Feed of Laying Hens

This study was conducted to examine the effect on performance, egg quality criteria and egg cholesterol level of adding different ratios of flaxseed oil instead of sunflower oil to the compound feed of laying hens. A total of 210, 30-week old Lohmann LSL laying hens were acquired for the study. The study groups consisted of a control group (5% sunflower oil (SO) + 0% flaxseed oil (FO) and trial 1 (4% SO + 1% FO), trial 2 (3% SO + 2% FO), trial 3 (2% SO + 3% FO), trial 4 (1% SO + 4% FO) and trial 5 (0% SO + 5% FO) groups. The study lasted for 8 weeks. The feed consumption was not different among the experimental groups. Feed utilization rate was higher in group 2 compared to those of other between 0-8 weeks (P<0.001). Between weeks 0 to 8, all trial groups were found have significantly higher levels of linoleic acid, one of the fatty acids found in yolk, compared to the control group (P<0.001). Additives were not found to affects levels of cholesterol in yolk, with no significant differences found between groups. In short, sunflower oil and flaxseed oil added to laying hen rations did not create any differences in terms of egg quality criteria or egg cholesterol levels, but higher levels of flaxseed oil added to the rations resulted in linearly higher levels of linolenic acid content of yolk, and use of the two oil additives together increased egg yields.

Effect of feeding linseed oil and vitamin a on production performance, egg characteristics and egg yolk fatty acids in laying hens under sub-tropical conditions

In the present study, linseed oil and vitamin A were fed to the laying hens during hot summer months to produce n-3 PUFA-enriched eggs. Two hundred and forty White Leghorn hens were randomly divided into 24 replicates and fed diets, for 12 weeks,2 with 0, 2, 3, or 4% linseed oil in combination with 3000 or 10000 IU vitamin A/kg. The results revealed that the supplementation of linseed oil and vitamin A to the diets did not affect (P>0.05) the production performance and egg characteristics in laying hens. However, body weight and feed intake were decreased (P<0.05) with the increase in dietary linseed oil levels. The serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, egg cholesterol and triglycerides levels were similar (P>0.05) for all dietary treatment groups. However, serum HDL-cholesterol was increased while LDL-cholesterol was decreased in laying hens with the increase in dietary linseed oil supplementation. The total n-6 PUFA and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio were decreased while the n-3 PUFA were increased linearly (P<0.001) in the egg-yolks by increasing dietary linseed oil level. Vitamin A did not influence (P>0.05) the egg-yolk fatty acid contents. It might be concluded that, the supplementation of linseed oil to the laying hens kept at high environmental temperature is beneficial for the production of n-3 PUFA-enriched eggs without any considerable effects on production performance.

Yumurtacı Tavuk Rasyonlarına Spirulina platensis İlave Edilmesinin Yumurta Kolesterol Seviyesi ve Yağ Asit Kompozisyonuna Etkisi

Spirulina platensis tek hücreli, fotosentetik bir mikroalg türüdür. Hem insan hem de hayvan tüketimi için protein ve fonksiyonel gıda katkı maddesidir. Yapısında keşfedilen değerli fitonütrientler ve pigmentler sayesinde sağlıklı beslenme, nutrasötik ve farmasötik alanda yoğun ilgi görmüştür. %5-6 toplam lipit oranının, %1,5-2 oranında çoklu doymamış yağ asitleri içeren (PUFAs) Spirulina, toplam PUFAs değerinin %36‘sı kadar α-linoleik asit içermektedir. Ayrıca Linoleik Asit, Stearidonik Asit, Eikosapentaenoik Asit, Dodosaheksaenoik Asit, Araşidonik Asit gibi kıymetli yağ asitlerini de içermektedir. Bu çalışmada kahverengi yumurtacı tavuk (ATAK-S) yemlerine ilave edilen Spirulina ununun yumurta sarısı yağ asit kompozisyonu ve yumurta sarısı kolesterol seviyesine etkisi belirlenmiştir. 72 adet benzer canlı ağırlıkta 38 haftalık yumurtacı tavuk, her birinde 18 hayvan bulunacak şekilde 4 gruba rastgele dağıtılmıştır. Bireysel kafes sisteminde barındırılan tavuklar 8 hafta süreyle denemede tutulmuş ve %0 (Kontrol), %0,5, %1, %2 (%KM‘ de) Spirulina unu içeren standart yumurtacı tavuk yemleriyle beslenmiştir. Deneme süresince 16:8 saatlik aydınlık:karanlık aydınlatma periyodu uygulanmıştır. Yem ve su ad libitum verilmiştir. Deneme sonucunda kontrol grubu ile kıyaslandığında, muamele grupları yumurta sarısı kolesterol miktarları arasındaki fark istatistiki açıdan önemsiz bulunmuştur. Yağ asidi komposizyonuna ilişkin elde edilen bulgulara göre rasyona ilave edilen Spirulina unu gruplar arasında linolenik asit miktarları üzerine etkili olmuştur.

Fatty acids profile, cholesterol level and quality of table eggs from hens fed with the addition of linseed and soybean oil

The study objective was to assess the impact of soybean (SO) and linseed oil (LO) added to feed mixture for laying hens upon the quality characteristics of table eggs, their fatty acid (FA) profile and cholesterol level. The material consisted of eggs from hens fed with a mixture without oil and with the addition of LO or SO in a dose of 2.5%. Eggs were subjected to quality assessment. FA profile and cholesterol content in yolks were determined. The results indicate no negative changes in eggs’ quality caused by supplementation. An increase was observed in the n3 FA content in egg yolk in experimental groups, as well as all PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) proportions. No negative impact of these oils on the level of cholesterol was noted. As a consequence, the analysed feed additives can be safely applied as an appropriate material in poultry nutrition to enrich eggs with PUFA.

Performance and well-being of laying hens subjected to various beak trimming methods and rearing systems

The aim to evaluate whether different beak trimming methods affected the performance and well-being of laying hens raised in cage and floor systems. During the starter phase, we used a completely randomized design, with three treatments (hot blade beak trimming, infrared beak trimming, and no beak trimming (control)), with four repetitions and in the grower and production phase, we used a factorial arrangement scheme involving two production systems (cage or floor) and three beak management methods (as above). We reared the birds in starter, grower and production phases over a course of 30 weeks. We evaluated productivity, egg quality, behavioral parameters and biochemical variables. In the starter phase, control birds showed higher blood glucose levels (p=0.043). In the grower phase, birds subjected to hot blade beak trimming and control birds showed lower feed intake and better feed conversion. Triglyceride levels were higher in the cage rearing system (p&lt;0.05). In the production phase, the cage rearing system showed higher productivity (p&lt;0.05), mean egg weight (p&lt;0.01), cholesterol levels (p&lt;0.05) and oxygen reactive species levels (p&lt;0.05). In the production phase, the floor system gave rise to a higher frequency of comfort movement behaviors (p&lt;0.01). Hens in cage had improved their performance and had greater egg production efficiency. The choice of the beak method depends on the breeding system.

THE ADDITION OF FRESH GARLIC (Allium sativum L) IN DUCK FEED REDUCES CHOLESTEROL CONTENT OF DUCK EGG

The objective of this study to determine the effect of feeding fresh garlic to ducks on decrease the cholesterol level of duck eggs. This study composed of two treatment groups. The duck in the first group (control) was fed local feed without spplemente d with fresh garlic, while in the second group was fed with local feed and supplemented with 50 grams of fresh garlic/duck/day. Egg yolk cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG) analysis were carried out at the end of the study using the ether extract method and then with the Cholesterol Oksidase Para Amino Penazone (CHOD-PAP) or enzymatic color test. Data was analysed using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) the results showed that fresh garlic reduced total cholesterol, LDL fraction, and triglyceride, but increased the HDL fraction of duck egg yolk. The total cholesterol, LDL fraction, and triglyceride of duck egg yolks dropped by around 15.98 mg per dL (8.06%), 10.40 mg per dL (12.97%), 64.92 mg per dL (12.71%), respectively, while the HDL fraction increased by 11.40 mg per dL (19.32%) The results of this study indicated that fresh garlic can be used to produce specific products such as low cholesterol and low fat duck eggs.

The effect of organic quail egg supplementation on the blood lipid profile of white mice (Rattus Norvegicus L.) during the lactation period

Background: Quail eggs contain a considerable amount of complete nutritional sources such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and micronutrients. However, they also have a high cholesterol level, which can potentially cause atherosclerosis and chronic heart diseases. The response of the body to foods containing is influenced by factors such as ethnicity, genetics, and hormonal and nutrient status of the consumer. The cholesterol level of quail eggs can be reduced by manipulating the feed using supplemental organic feed. Organic quail eggs have been believed to correct the lipid profile of white mice during the lactation phase. Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of feed containing organic quail eggs on the blood lipid profile of white mice (Rattus norvegicus L.) during the lactation phase. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted using a completely randomized design with four experiments and five repetitions. Experimental mice: T0 mice were used as control; T1 mice were supplemented with quail eggs produced by quails that were fed with standard feed; T2 mice were supplemented with eggs produced by quails fed with standard organic feed; and T3 mice were supplemented with eggs produced by quails fed with organic feed with the addition of cassava leaf flour, mackerel flour, and turmeric powder. Quail egg supplementation was administered to the mice from the early pregnancy period till the end of the lactation phase. The acquired data were analyzed using ANOVA. SPSS version 16.0 software for Windows was used for data analyses. Results and summary: Feeding the white mice with different compositions of organic quail egg supplements had no effect on the consumption of feed and water, body weight, and lipid profile (including total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride) during the lactation phase (P > 0.05).

Assessment of Effects of Prebiotics Supplementation on Feed Intake, Egg and Serum Cholesterol Levels in White Leghorn Layers

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of supplementation of graded levels of prebiotics on feed intake, egg yolk cholesterol, serum cholesterol levels and internal egg quality parameters in White Leghorn layers. An experiment trial was run for a period of 16 weeks with eighty White Leghorn layers in the age group of 22–23 weeks of age were allotted randomly to four dietary treatments having 4 replications with 5 birds each. The control diet (T1) was formulated as per the BIS (2007) meeting the requirements for laying phase of the hens in the age group of 22–38 weeks. In addition, the birds in treatments T2, T3 and T4 were supplemented with prebiotics (containing mannonoligosacchrides of the Saccharomyces cell wall-47 g, formic acid (85%)-32 g, HSCAS upto 1 kg) @ 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg of feed, respectively. Laying hens receiving prebiotics exhibited improvement in feed conversion ratio of 3.83 and 7.34% in treatment groups T3 and T4, respectively compared to control. The prebiotics supplementation showed positive effect on internal egg quality parameters viz. albumen index, yolk index and Haugh unit in layers supplemented with graded levels of the prebiotics as compared to the control group. Maximum increase of 1.92% in albumen index and 2.06% in Haugh unit was observed in treatment T4 as compared to T1. However, no significant effect was observed for yolk index. Also, a significant (P<0.05) reduction was observed in the serum as well as egg yolk cholesterol and low density lipoproteins (LDL) concentrations while egg yolk high density lipoproteins (HDL) concentrations were not affected. Thus, the present study showed that administration of prebiotics had positive effect on serum and egg cholesterol levels without any changes in HDL levels.

Effects of Kluyveromyces marxianus Isolated from Tibetan Mushrooms on the Plasma Lipids, Egg Cholesterol Level, Egg Quality and Intestinal Health of Laying Hens

The effects of the Kluyveromyces marxianus M3 strain, isolated from Tibetan mushrooms, on plasma lipids, egg cholesterol level, egg quality, and intestinal health of laying hens were evaluated. In total, 160 Beijing fatty laying hens (43 weeks old) were divided into four groups and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.1%, 0.3%, or 0.5% freeze-dried K. marxianus M3 powder for four weeks. The results showed that yeast supplementation reduced serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels (p<0.01), and increased serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level (p<0.05). Moreover, regardless of K. marxianus M3 dietary addition level, the cholesterol content of the eggs decreased by more than 26%. When0.3% yeast was supplemented, significant differences were found in the egg weights, shell strength, albumen height, Haugh unit and nutrient content of the eggs (p<0.01). Finally, 0.3% yeast supplementation improved the intestinal flora conditions of the hens by decreasing the Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus counts (p<0.01) and increasing the Bifidobacterium count (p<0.01). The results in this work demonstrated that yeast culture supplementation to the diets deceased the serum and egg yolk cholesterol, and increased egg quality.

Comparison of dietary tocotrienols from barley and palm oils in hen's egg yolk: transfer efficiency, influence of emulsification, and effect on egg cholesterol

The main component in tocotrienols (T3) from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is α-T3, the vitamer with the highest bioavailability, while palm oil T3 is particularly rich in γ-T3. Unlike tocopherols, T3 are known for their cholesterogenesis-inhibiting, neuroprotective and anticarcinogenic properties. In this study the oral bioavailabilities of T3 from barley oil (3.98 mg day⁻¹) and T3 from palm oil (3.36 mg day⁻¹) in nanoemulsified formulations (NE) and self-emulsifying systems (SES) were compared using hen's eggs as a bioindicator. In addition, the transfer efficiencies of barley oil T3 and palm oil T3 into egg yolk were compared, as well as their effects on egg cholesterol levels. Nanoemulsification led to T3 levels (132.9 µg per egg) higher than with non-emulsified barley oil (112.8 µg per egg) and barley oil SES (116.7 µg per egg) owing to the high proportions of α-T3 (99-117 µg per egg), which has a particularly high transfer efficiency (4.32-6.75%). T3 contents of eggs from hens fed barley oil supplements (112-132 µg per egg) were significantly higher than those of eggs from hens fed palm oil supplements (70-78 µg per egg). Addition of barley and palm oils to laying hen feed decreased egg yolk cholesterol by 4 and 6% respectively. Results from this animal study may help to establish T3 from barley as a dietary supplement and to develop nutritionally improved hen's eggs.

Cholesterol levels and nutritional composition of commercial layers eggs fed diets with different vegetable oils

This experiment aimed at evaluating the effects of the supplementation of different vegetable oils at different levels to the diet of commercial layers on egg cholesterol levels and nutritional composition (proteins, total solids, lipids, and ashes) for 112 days. Birds were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design with 10 treatments (T1 - control; T2 - inclusion of 2.5% rapeseed oil; T3 - inclusion of 2.5% canola oil; T4 - inclusion of 2.5% soybean oil; T5 - inclusion of 5% rapeseed oil; T6 - inclusion of 5% canola oil; T7 - inclusion of 5% soybean oil; T8 - inclusion of 2.5% rapeseed oil + 2.5% soybean oil; T9 - inclusion 2.5% canola oil + 2.5% soybean oil; T10 - inclusion of 2.5% rapeseed oil + 2.5% canola oil) of six replicates of eight birds each, totaling 480 birds. Yolk cholesterol levels and nutritional composition were determined on days 20, 60 and 112 days of the experimental period. Data obtained during the experimental period were submitted to analysis of variance. Egg yolks produced by layer fed oils presented lower cholesterol levels after 20 days of inclusion in the experimental diets. On days 60 and 112, cholesterol levels were higher. It was concluded that supplementing layer diets with vegetable oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids does not change the nutritional composition of egg yolks. The supply of diets containing oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids does not reduce yolk cholesterol content.

PENGARUH LUMPUR SAWIT FERMENTASI DENGAN SUPLEMENTASI ASAM AMINO LISIN, METIONIN, TRIPTOPAN SELAMA PRODUKSI TERHADAP PERFORMANS DAN KUALITAS INTERNAL SERTA KADAR KOLESTEROL TELUR AYAM RAS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding fermented palm oil sluge and critical amino acid (CAA) ; methyonine, lysine, and tryptophan supplementation on diet to performance, egg internal quality and egg cholesterol level. The research design used was complety randomized design with 4 teatments with 80 layer; each treatment consists of P0 ; the control diet, without addition of critical amino acid. P1 ; the diet contains of 50% critical amino acid (P1:50% (Lys 404.5 mg/kg ; Met 250 g/kg ; Trp 90,5 gr), P2: suplementasi 75% (Lys 606,75 mg/kg; Met 375,75 mg/kg; Trp 137,75 mg/kg), P3: suplementasi 100% (Lys 809 mg/kg; Met 501 mg/kg; Trp 90.5mg/kg) on diet.. Variable 0bserved were feed comsumption, feed conversi, egg weight, egg production, yolk colour, yolk index, albumen index, shell thickness, air cell and egg cholesterol level that feeding 100% supplementation consisting of (Lys 809 mg/kg; Met 501 mg/kg; Trp 90.5 mg/kg) significantly (P&lt;0.05). In conclutions, P3 (Lys 809 mg/kg; Met 501 mg/kg; Trp 90.5 mg/kg) teatment group was significant on yolk colour, yolk index, albumen index, air cell and cholesterol level.

Effect of retinyl palmitate supplementation on egg yolk retinol and cholesterol concentrations in quail

1. The purpose of this study was to assess the incorporation of retinol into quail egg yolk and cholesterol concentration in response to supplementation with different quantities of retinyl palmitate (600, 1200, 2400 and 4800 µg). 2. Supplementations were performed weekly for 4 weeks and the yolk retinol was measured using high performance liquid chromatography. 3. The results showed a progressive increase in the incorporation of retinol into the egg yolk in response to supplementation, reaching values 384% higher than control values. 4. At the end of supplementation we observed a significant decrease in egg yolk retinol concentrations with supplementations of 2400 and 4800 µg, the most enduring showing high retinol contents even after 3 weeks. 5. Supplementation increased egg weight but neither egg production nor cholesterol levels were significantly altered.

Oral administration of pravastatin reduces egg cholesterol but not plasma cholesterol in laying hens

The effect of different 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR)-inhibitors (statins) on plasma and egg cholesterol in laying hens was investigated. Forty-four ISA brown layers were fed lovastatin, simvastatin, or pravastatin at 0.03 or 0.06% for 4 wk. Cholesterol levels in plasma, liver, and egg yolk as well as hen laying performance were studied. Egg weight was significantly lowered with all statin treatments, although egg production was relatively unaffected. Total plasma cholesterol was significantly reduced by 0.06% lovastatin, 0.03% simvastatin, and 0.06% simvastatin, in agreement with previous reports, whereas pravastatin had no effect. In contrast, liver cholesterol concentrations showed a significant decrease in response to 0.03 and 0.06% pravastatin, implying selective regulation of liver cholesterol synthesis. Furthermore, oral administration with 0.06% pravastatin reduced egg cholesterol levels by almost 20% compared with the control diet. This suggests that pravastatin, unlike other classes of statin, may be a good candidate for commercial production of low cholesterol eggs with limited impact on hen physiology and egg production.

Chickens fed with biomass of the red microalga Porphyridium sp. have reduced blood cholesterol level and modified fatty acid composition in egg yolk.

The biomass of the red alga Porphyridium sp.constitutes a unique combination of soluble sulfatedpolysaccharide that accounts for about 70% of thealgal dry weight, and various polyunsaturatedfatty acids (PUFA) such as arachidonic andeicosapentaenoic acid (AA, 20:4 ω6 and EPA,20:5 ω3). In view of earlier results in ourlaboratory showing a reduction in serum cholesteroland triglyceride levels in rodents fed with red algalbiomass, we set out to examine the influence of algalbiomass as a feed additive on the metabolism ofchickens, with an emphasis on blood and eggcholesterol levels. For that purpose, lyophilizedalgal biomass was fed to 12–13, 30-week-old, WhiteLeghorn chickens for 10 days at a proportion of 5% or10% of the standard chicken diet. Twelve chickensfed with unsupplemented diet served as the control. No differences in body weight, egg number, and eggweight were found between the algal-fed chickens (atboth concentrations) and the control. However,chickens fed with algal biomass consumed 10% lessfood for both groups, and their serum cholesterollevels were significantly lower (by 11% and 28% forthe groups fed with 5% and 10% supplement,respectively) as compared with the respective valuesof the control group. Egg yolk of chickens fed withalgae tended to have reduced cholesterol levels (by10%) and increased linoleic acid and arachidonic acidlevels (by 29% and 24%, respectively). In addition,the color of the egg yolk was darker as a result ofthe higher carotenoid levels (2.4 fold higher) forchickens that fed with 5% supplement. Theseresults encourage the development of an improvedchicken feed having dietary fibers and polyunsaturatedfatty acids.