Percentage Of Docosahexaenoic Acid Research Articles

Integrated production of xylose and docosahexaenoic acid from hemicellulose and cellulose in corncob

Exploring efficient and comprehensive utilization of agricultural waste to produce high value-added products has been global research hotspot. In this study, a novel process for integrated production of xylose and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from hemicellulose and cellulose in corncob was developed. Corncob was treated with dilute H2SO4 at 121 °C for 1 h and xylose was readily produced with a recovery yield of 79.35 %. The corncob residue was then subject to alkali pretreatment under optimized conditions of 0.1 g NaOH/g dry solid, 60 °C for 2 h, and the contents of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in the resulting residue were 87.49 %, 7.58 % and 2.31 %, respectively. The cellulose in the residue was easily hydrolyzed by cellulase, yielding 74.87 g/L glucose with hydrolysis efficiency of 77.02 %. Remarkably, the corncob residue hydrolysate supported cell growth and DHA production in Schizochytrium sp. ATCC 20888 well, and the maximum biomass of 32.71 g/L and DHA yield of 4.63 g/L were obtained, with DHA percentage in total fatty acids of 36.89 %. This study demonstrates that the corncob residue generated during xylose production, rich in cellulose, can be effectively utilized for DHA production by Schizochytrium sp., offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to pure glucose.

Erythrocyte Phospholipid Fatty Acid Profile in High-Level Endurance Runners

Fatty acids (FAs) are the major structural component of erythrocyte membranes. Diet and physical exercise directly influence their incorporation and function. Endurance runners engage in high volumes of weekly aerobic training, alternating between low-intensity and high-intensity sessions. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the erythrocyte FA profile in a group of high-level male endurance runners (EG) with a control group of non-athlete subjects (CG). This observational study was conducted on 85 subjects, 63 high-level male endurance runners (23 ± 3 years; height: 1.76 ± 0.05) and 22 subjects who did not engage in regular physical exercise (21 ± 0.5 years; height: 1.68 ± 0.39). Runners had at least five years of training experience, and all of them were participants in national and international tournaments. FAs determination was performed using gas chromatography. Higher percentages of Palmitic Acid (PA), Stearic Acid (SA), Oleic Acid (OA), Calendic Acid (CA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA), and lower percentages of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) were found in the EG compared to the CG. High-level endurance runners exhibit altered erythrocyte FA profiles with low percentages of omega-3 index (ω-3 index) and DHA, which may affect erythrocyte membrane function as well as their performance.

The Influence of APOE Genotype, DHA, and Flavanol Intervention on Brain DHA and Lipidomics Profile in Aged Transgenic Mice.

The apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype is predictive of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The brain is highly enriched with the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n3-PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA's metabolism is defective in APOE4 carriers. Flavanol intake can play a role in modulating DHA levels. However, the impact of flavanol co-supplementation with fish oil on brain DHA uptake, status and partitioning, and according to APOE genotype is currently unknown. Here, using a humanised APOE3 and APOE4 targeted replacement transgenic mouse model, the interactive influence of cocoa flavanols (FLAV) and APOE genotype on the blood and subcortical brain PUFA status following the supplementation of a high fat (HF) enriched with DHA from fish oil (FO) was investigated. DHA levels increased in the blood (p < 0.001) and brain (p = 0.001) following supplementation. Compared to APOE3, a higher red blood cell (RBC) DHA (p < 0.001) was evident in APOE4 mice following FO and FLAV supplementation. Although FO did not increase the percentage of brain DHA in APOE4, a 17.1% (p < 0.05) and 20.0% (p < 0.001) higher DHA level in the phosphatidylcholine (PC) fraction in the HF FO and HF FO FLAV groups, and a 14.5% (p < 0.05) higher DHA level in the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) fraction in the HF FO FLAV group was evident in these animals relative to the HF controls. The addition of FLAV (+/- FO) did not significantly increase the percentage of brain DHA in the group as a whole. However, a higher brain: RBC DHA ratio was evident in APOE3 only (p < 0.05) for HF FLAV versus HF. In conclusion, our data shows only modest effects of FLAV on the brain DHA status, which is limited to APOE3.

The Effects of Different LED Lights on the Main Nutritional Compositions of Isochrysis zhanjiangensis

Light irradiation plays an important role in the growth of microalgae and their nutrient composition. To elucidate the effect of different LED lights (red, orange, green, blue, purple, simulated sunlight, and white) on the main nutritional compositions of Isochrysis zhanjiangensis, the growth, fatty acid composition, soluble carbohydrate, and soluble protein contents were studied. The results show that I. zhanjiangensis grew the fastest under blue light (p = 0.044). In terms of fatty acid composition, the percentage of myristic acid (C14:0) decreased significantly (p = 0.021) under blue light and simulated sunlight, but the percentages of palmitic acid (C16:0) (p = 0.032) and stearic acid (C18:0) (p = 0.037) significantly increased. The percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) increased under orange light (p = 0.021), and the percentage of total unsaturated fatty acids increased under blue light (p = 0.008). The protein content significantly increased under simulated sunlight (p = 0.025), while the carbohydrate content did not vary much (p &gt; 0.05) under different lights. These findings provide useful guidance for optimizing the cultivation conditions of I. zhanjiangensis to improve its nutritional value and yield.

Effect of Microalgal Diets on Sunray Venus Clam (Macrocallista nimbosa) Production and Fatty Acid Profile

The sunray venus (sunray) clam, Macrocallista nimbosa, is an alternative clam species reared in hard clam hatcheries in Florida. Current feeding practices follow those used for hard clam culture. This study aimed to identify whether a hard clam bi-algal Tisochrysis lutea and Chaetoceros neogracile diet was an optimal diet for post-set sunray clams or whether other microalgal dietary combinations could improve production. Six dietary bi-, tri-, or tetra-algal combinations consisting of four microalgae species (Tisochrysis lutea, Diacronema lutheri, Chaetoceros neogracile, and Thalassiosira weissflogii) were fed for 6 weeks; the growth, survival, and fatty acid profiles of post-set clams were evaluated. Clams fed equal proportions of T. lutea, D. lutheri, C. neogracile, and T. weissflogii had higher growth, while those fed equal proportions of T. lutea and C. neogracile had higher survival. The poorest-performing diet consisted solely of diatoms. A contrasting polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profile was found in post-set clams fed flagellate- or diatom-only diets. Clams fed the bi-algal flagellate diet had a higher percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) but a lower percentage of (n-6) PUFA, whereas those fed the bi-algal diatom diet had a higher percentage of arachidonic acid (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) but a lower percentage of DHA. The percentages were similar and neither very high nor very low in clams fed the remaining dietary treatments. The results of this study show that sunray venus post-set clams can be successfully produced when fed a typical hard clam bi-algal flagellate and diatom diet, but they indicate that growth may be accelerated by the addition of other microalgae species.

Modulating DHA-Producing Schizochytrium sp. toward Astaxanthin Biosynthesis via a Seamless Genome Editing System.

Schizochytrium sp. is commercially used for the production of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Some strains of Schizochytrium sp. are also known to produce low amounts of carotenoids, including astaxanthin and β-carotene. In order to enhance the production of astaxanthin in Schizochytrium sp., we established a seamless genome editing system with a dual selection marker for rapid screening of positive transformants. By using this system, we strengthened the endogenous mevalonate pathway, enhanced the supply of geranylgeranyl diphosphate and β-carotene, upregulated endogenous β-carotene hydroxylase, and introduced the algal astaxanthin pathway. The highest astaxanthin production in the engineered Schizochytrium sp. was achieved at 8.1 mg/L (307.1 μg/g dry cell weight) under shake-flask conditions, which was 2.6-fold higher than that in the start strain. Meanwhile, the percentage of DHA to total fatty acids was not obviously affected. We then eliminated the dual selection marker by using the Cre-loxP recombination system, and the engineered strain was ready for iterative editing. The developed system could be applied to seamlessly engineer DHA-producing Schizochytrium sp. toward astaxanthin and other value-added terpenoids, which broadens the application of this strain.

Growth, survival and fatty acid profile of hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, juveniles fed live microalgae diets

AbstractChoice of microalgae diet affects production outcomes in bivalve hatcheries. This study aimed to identify an optimal microalgae diet to improve hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, juvenile production. Four microalgae species (Tisochrysis lutea, Pavlova lutheri, Chaetoceros gracilis and Cyclotella nana) in six dietary combinations were fed for 6 weeks; then, growth, survival and fatty acid profiles of juveniles were evaluated. The highest numerical growth and survival of juveniles were attained by feeding a tetra‐species microalgae diet, but no statistical difference was found by feeding bi‐ or tri‐species diets that consisted of a mix of flagellate and diatom microalgae. Significant differences in fatty acid profiles were found among clams fed different microalgae diets. A contrasting polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profile was found in juveniles fed flagellate‐ or diatom‐only diets. Clams fed flagellate‐only diets contained a higher percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) but a lower percentage of (n‐6) PUFAs, whereas those fed diatom‐only diets had a higher percentage of arachidonic acid (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) but a lower percentage of DHA. In contrast, the percentage of EPA, DHA and ARA was neither very high nor very low in juveniles fed the tetra‐species diet. The complementary nutritional profile of the tetra‐species microalgae diet resulted in enhanced production and exhibited a more balanced fatty acid profile in clam tissue. The tetra‐species microalgae diet should be a preferable choice for feeding hard clam juveniles, but the cost of producing multiple microalgae species for hatchery/nursery operations should be taken into consideration as bi‐ and tri‐species diets provided statistically similar growth and survival. Results of this study can be used to improve productivity and profitability in M. mercenaria hatcheries.

Mechanisms of Sodium-Acetate-Induced DHA Accumulation in a DHA-Producing Microalga, Crypthecodinium sp. SUN.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that is critical for the intelligence and visual development of infants. Crypthecodinium is the first microalga approved by the Food and Drug Administration for DHA production, but its relatively high intracellular starch content restricts fatty acid accumulation. In this study, different carbon sources, including glucose (G), sodium acetate (S) and mixed carbon (M), were used to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of intracellular organic carbon distribution in Crypthecodinium sp. SUN. Results show that glucose favored cell growth and starch accumulation. Sodium acetate limited glucose utilization and starch accumulation but caused a significant increase in total fatty acid (TFA) accumulation and the DHA percentage. Thus, the DHA content in the S group was highest among three groups and reached a maximum (10.65% of DW) at 96 h that was 2.92-fold and 2.24-fold of that in the G and M groups, respectively. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that rather than the expression of key genes in fatty acids biosynthesis, increased intracellular acetyl-CoA content appeared to be the key regulatory factor for TFA accumulation. Additionally, metabolome analysis showed that the accumulated DHA-rich metabolites of lipid biosynthesis might be the reason for the higher TFA content and DHA percentage of the S group. The present study provides valuable insights to guide further research in DHA production.

Zootechnical performance, biochemical composition and gene expression of digestive enzymes in Litopenaeus vannamei post‐larvae fed the nematode Panagrolaimus sp. ( NFS 24–5)

This study investigated the effect of different size ranges, densities and feeding frequencies of the nematode Panagrolaimus sp. strain NFS 24–5 on zootechnical performance, biochemical composition and digestive enzyme gene expression of Litopenaeus vannamei stage 1 (PL1) post-larvae. Trial 1 supplied large (LN) (800–1,200 μm) or small (SN) (200–800 μm) DHA-enriched nematodes twice daily, substituting non-enriched Artemia (control treatment) totally (100%) or partially (75%). Trial 2 only supplied LN once or thrice daily, replacing Artemia at 100% or 75%. Trial 1 larvae fed on LN (100LN and 75LN) showed similar zootechnical performance and biochemical composition to those reared with Artemia (100A). Supplying 100% SN negatively affected PL1 total length. LN contained twofold more arachidonic (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic acids than SN, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was fivefold higher. Trial 2 obtained better zootechnical results with 75% Artemia substitution than 100%. Shrimp fatty acid profiles were similar in Trials 1 and 2. Post-larvae fed 100LN had twofold higher percentages of ARA and DHA compared with those from the control treatment. Amylase, lipase and chymotrypsin genes were over-expressed in PL1 fed 100LN once daily. Contrarily, amylase and trypsin genes were under-expressed in PL1 fed 100LN or 75LN thrice daily, evidencing a better nematode availability for shrimp. In conclusion, non-enriched Artemia can be partially or totally substituted by large DHA-enriched Panagrolaimus sp. during the larval stage of L. vannamei when the nematode is distributed twice daily.

Geographical differences in stable isotope ratios and fatty acid and lipid signatures of chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus, in waters around Japan

We analyzed stable isotope ratios, fatty acid, and lipid components of chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus, to evaluate their applicability as chemical biomarkers. Chub mackerel were collected in the East China Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Pacific Ocean, with body sizes ranging from 51 to 388 mm. The total fatty acid and lipid contents (mg g–1) increased with growth, and the percent composition of fatty acids and lipids changed drastically. The percentages of docosahexaenoic acid (%DHA), stearic acid (%Ste), and arachidonic acid (%ARA) decreased and the percentage of oleic acid (%Ole) increased when the body length (fork length, FL) was about 250 mm. The amounts of triacylglycerols (TAG) in fish in the East China Sea were lower than in the Sea of Japan and Pacific Ocean. The percentage of TAG drastically increased at around 250 mm FL, however, the phosphatidylcholines (PC) drastically decreased. The ontogenetic differences in the fatty acid and lipid composition might be influenced by metabolic events such as growth and reproduction. The geographical differences in chub mackerel can be distinguished by using stable isotope ratios, the ω3:ω6 fatty acid and DHA:EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) ratios, and six main fatty acids. These chemical biomarkers could be available for understanding habitat and migration of chub mackerel.

Dietary DHA Oil Supplementation Promotes Ovarian Development and Astaxanthin Deposition during the Ovarian Maturation of Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis

Astaxanthin (Axn) is an essential carotenoid for crustacean pigmentation, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an important fatty acid; both play key roles in maintaining the health of many aquaculture species. The present study explored the combined effect of dietary Axn and DHA on gonadal development and carotenoid deposition in adult females of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. A 2 × 3 factorial design of experimental diets was created to contain two levels of Axn (0 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) and three levels of DHA oil (0%, 0.33%, and 0.67%). The results showed as follows: (1) For the culture performance, dietary DHA oil significantly increased the gonadosomatic index (GSI), and Diet 2 (Axn 0% + DHA oil 0.33%) had the highest GSI among all treatments. (2) For the enzymatic indicators in the hepatopancreas and hemolymph, supplementation with 0.33% DHA oil significantly improved the antioxidant capacity (T-AOC and MDA), immunity (AKP and ACP), and health status (e.g., GPT and GOT) of E. sinensis. (3) Supplementation with 100 mg/kg Axn significantly increased redness (a ∗ ) and Axn concentration in both the ovaries and hepatopancreas, and supplementation with 0.33% or 0.67% DHA oil produced a further significant improvement in Axn concentration when the diets were supplemented with 100 mg/kg of Axn. (4) As for proximate composition, dietary Axn and DHA significantly increased the deposition of total lipids and triacylglycerol in the hepatopancreas. As expected, the crabs fed diets with DHA supplementation showed an increase in the DHA percentage and DHA/EPA ratio in the ovaries and hepatopancreas. In conclusion, dietary Axn and DHA oil had positive effects on ovarian development in E. sinensis females. The optimal combination of dietary Axn and DHA oil was determined to be approximately 100 mg/kg and 0.33%, respectively, for this species during ovarian maturation.

Low Percentage of Vegetable Fat in Red Blood Cells Is Associated with Worse Glucose Metabolism and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes.

The identification of nutritional patterns associated with the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) might help lead the way to a more efficient and personalized nutritional intervention. Our study is aimed at evaluating the association between fatty acids (FA) in red blood cell (RBC) membranes, as a quantitative biomarker of regular dietary fat intake, and incident type 2 diabetes in a Spanish population. We included 1032 adult Spaniards (57% women, age 49 ± 15 years, 18% prediabetes), without diabetes at study entry, from the Di@bet.es cohort. Incident diabetes was diagnosed at the end of the study follow-up. The FA percentage in RBC was determined at baseline by gas chromatography. Participants were followed on average 7.5 ± 0.6 years. Lower percentages of linoleic acid (LA), α-linolenic (ALA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and higher percentages of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in RBC membranes were associated, independently of classical risk factors, with worse glucose metabolism at the end of the study follow-up. In addition, higher percentages of ALA and EPA, and moderate percentages of DHA, were associated with lower risk of diabetes. No significant associations were found for LA and diabetes risk. Dietary patterns rich in vegetables are independently associated with lower risk of both deterioration of glucose regulation and incident diabetes, and should be reinforced for the prevention of diabetes.

Effect of purification methods on functional properties of sardine oil ethyl esters

In this study, four methods including urea complexation (UC), molecular distillation (MD), low-temperature crystallization (LTC), and Ag+ bonded to mercaptopropyl silica gel column chromatography (AgMSG-CC) were adopted to purify eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from sardine oil ethyl esters (SOEEs). These methods were systematically compared in terms of physicochemical properties, fatty acid (FA) compositions, and volatile flavor compounds to evaluate the performance and find the superior among them. The AgMSG-CC method was superior in enhancing iodine value (IV) and reducing peroxide value (PV), enriching EPA and DHA from 31.63% to 92.19% and removing undesirable volatiles. Its mild experimental conditions could avoid the degradation and geometrical isomerization of lipids, and the packed AgMSG column could be reused. Multivariate data analysis was applied to provide an integrated and holistic view of correlation coefficients between the samples and FA species. The results supported the critical role of AgMSG-CC method in purifying EPA and DHA. Finally, this method was validated to be accurate and sensitive in the purification of EPA and DHA from SOEEs. Practical applications High quality of fish oil is related to its high content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and friendly aroma. However, enrichment methods about purifying fish oil affect the percentages of EPA and DHA, physicochemical indexes and the volatile flavor. In this study, the results demonstrated that Ag+ bonded to mercaptopropyl silica gel column chromatography was the most effective to purify EPA and DHA as well as remove the undesirable odor volatiles.

Effects of co-culturing Schizochytrium sp. and Escherichia coli cells on biomass and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production

Heterotrophic marine microalga Schizochytrium sp. is one of the most studied microorganisms for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production. Severeal strategies were reported to enhance DHA production, including co-culturing algal cells with different microorganisms. In this study, Schizochytrium sp. and Escherichia coli were co-cultured to examine the effect of bacterial cells on the algal growth and DHA production. The cells were incubated for 168 h and recovered to analyze biomass production, lipid content and DHA yield in the mixed culture medium. Cultivation of algal and bacterial species together decreased the biomass production (g/L), total lipid concentration (ml/L), DHA yield (g/L) and DHA percentage in lipid content about 4.1, 1.7, 3.8 and 2.2 folds, respectively, compared to algal monoculture. The only increasing amount was obtained with DHA yield per biomass (mg/gCDW) which was about 1.1 fold higher in the mixed culture. The results showed that presence of Escherichia coli cells in the medium affected the growth of Schizochytrium sp. cells and DHA production negatively. It was estimated that the interaction between algal and bacterial cells were competition instead of mutualistic interaction in which bacterial cells outcompeted the algal cells and limited the cell density increase of algal cells in the mixed culture.

Optimization of docosahexaenoic acid production by Schizochytrium SP. – A review

Microorganisms are becoming increasingly popular as a source of raw materials for the production of food for humans and feed for animals. These raw materials are usually associated with a relatively high price due to the still low efficiency of microorganisms biomass production. The fall in prices is inextricably linked to the optimization of the production process, specific for each species. The aim of this review is to summarize the results of research for the optimization of oil production from Schizochytrium sp., with a strong emphasis on the production of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This genus is related to a high percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the composition of fatty acids, with relatively high concentration of dry matter per liter of medium. Optimization of DHA production involves the use of appropriate source and concentration of carbon and nitrogen, providing the microorganisms with optimal growth environment, which consists of pH, oxygenation, water temperature, salinity and medium fluid dynamics.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) status in severe preeclampsia and preterm birth: a cross sectional study

Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (LCPUFA) is essential throughout pregnancy, since deficiency of LPUFA may linked to obstetrical complications. This study aimed to investigate LCPUFA status in severe preeclampsia and preterm birth. A cross sectional study was conducted in 104 pregnant women, which divided into normal pregnancy, severe preeclampsia and preterm birth groups. Serum percentage and concentration of total LCPUFA, omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), omega-6, linoleic acid (LA), and arachidonic acid (AA) were measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC), bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Severe preeclampsia showed the highest concentration of total PUFA and the lowest DHA percentage, with significantly higher Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio (p = 0.004) and lower omega-3 index (p < 0.002) compared to control. Preterm birth showed the least omega-3 concentrations, with significantly low omega-6 derivates (LA (p = 0.014) and AA (p = 0.025)) compared to control. LCPUFA parameters have shown to increase the risk in both conditions, particularly ALA ≤ 53 µmol/L in preeclampsia with OR 5.44, 95%CI 1.16–25.42 and preterm birth with OR 4.68, 95%CI 1.52–14.38. These findings suggest that severe preeclampsia and preterm birth have an imbalance in LCPUFA status.

A comparative study of fatty acids profile of two Indian major carps (Gibelion catla, Hamilton, 1822 and Cirrhinus mrigala, Hamilton, 1822) using value added fish feed

Freshwater fishes are not only a major source of protein but they also possess nutritionally valuable lipids in the form of Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which play a crucial role in the normal growth, disease prevention, development, cardiovascular health and reproduction of human. The present study was performed to determine the incorporation rate of fatty acids profile and their composition in two common freshwater carps as Gibelion catla and Cirrhinus mrigala (in situ trial and experimental) in the different experimental time period (0 days, i.e. initial, 90 days and 180 days) by using of value added feed like flaxseed (?-linolenic acids, 51.26% – 54.94%) and soybean oil (?-linolenic acids, 7.95%-9.01%) as omega-3 supplements. To determine the specific growth pattern Length-Weight Relationships (LWRs) are analyzed where it showed positive allometric growth (b=3.20 in 90 days, b=3.11 in 180 days for Catla and b=3.18 in 90 days, b=3.1 in 180 days for Mrigala fish). The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) method also confirmed that the percentages of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) increased significantly (P&lt; 0.05) in experimental (0.096a±0.41, initial; 5.16a±0.27, 90 days; 6.21b±0.36, 180 days Catla fish species and 0.019a±0.96 initial; 3.74b±0.37, 90 days; 3.50a±0.46 180 days for Mrigal fish species) fishes rather than controls (4.28a±0.27, 90 days; 4.36b±0.36, 180 days for Catla species and 2.24b±0.31 90 days; 2.50a±0.11 180 days for Mrigal species). Therefore, it was clearly indicated that formulated diet performed significantly to maintain the positive allometric growth as well as successive enrichment of PUFAs in experimental specimens, which is beneficial for human health as high source of protein and PUFAs as well.

Effect of Production System (Intensive and Free-Range), Slaughter Age and Gender on Nutrient and Fatty Acid Composition of Meat in Partridges (Alectoris chukar)

This study was conducted to determine the effect of production system, slaughter age, and gender on the nutrient composition, fatty acids profile, and index values of breast and thigh meat in Alectoris chukar partridges. Partridges were slaughtered at 14, 16, and 18 weeks of age and skinless breast and thigh meat of male and female were used in the study (a total of 96 samples in 2 replicates). The production system affected only the crude fat level of the thigh meat in terms of nutrient composition and it was found higher in the intensive system compared to the free-range system. Age and gender did not significantly affect the composition of breast and thigh meat. In terms of fatty acid profile, erucic acid (C22:1n9) level in breast meat was higher in intensive system, while it was higher in thigh meat in free-range. While the percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3) increased with age in breast meat, it decreased in thigh meat with age. While eicosenoic acid (C20:1) percentage was higher in breast meat of male birds compared to females, only stearic acid (C18:0) was found to be higher in thigh meat. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), linolenic acid (n3), thrombogenic index (TI) and atherogenic index (AI) values were higher in thigh meat produced in free-range system, while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), linoleic acid (n6) and hypocholesterolaemic / hypercholesterolaemic ratio (h/H) were significantly higher in intensive system. While SFA and TI levels in thigh meat decreased with age, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), UFA and oleic acid (n9) percentages increased. MUFA / SFA in thigh meat of females was higher than males, other indexes were found insignificant. The results shows that partridges had desirable fatty acid composition. Especially, the increase in MUFA and UFA values with age in thigh meat compared to breast indicates that thigh meat is enriched in terms of unsaturated fatty acids. However, the higher SFA and AI values obtained in the free-range system could be considered a negative outcome for alternative production systems that prioritize bird welfare and consumer demands.

Short-Term Consumption of Pomegranate Juice Alleviates Some Metabolic Disturbances in Overweight Patients with Dyslipidemia.

Pomegranate juice (PJ) has potential positive effects in patients with metabolic disturbances due to a high content of polyphenols. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of a 2-week consumption of dietary doses of PJ on blood pressure, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress markers in overweight patients with dyslipidemia. Twenty-four patients, 8 males and 16 females, 40-60 years of age, with established overweight and dyslipidemia were randomly assigned into intervention group, who consumed 300 mL of PJ daily for 2 weeks, or control group. After 2 weeks of juice intake, intervention group had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aminotransferase, and activity of glutathione peroxidase. Furthermore, patients who consumed PJ had reduced percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) in plasma phospholipids and increased estimated activity of stearoyl-CoA desaturase. In erythrocytes, we found a significant increase in the levels of dihomo-γ- linolenic acid (20:3n-6, DGLA) and DHA, as well as in estimated activity of Δ6 desaturase, and a decrease in estimated activity of Δ5 desaturase. These results show that even a short-term consumption of dietary doses of PJ exerts beneficial effects and affects lipid metabolism in overweight patients with dyslipidemia.

Fatty acid profile of Slovenian farmed rainbow trout

The present study was carried out to determine the fatty acid profile of rainbow trout (Oncorynchus mykiss) from three Slovenian fish farms; Zalog, Želimlje and Povodje. Fatty acids composition was determined on a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The results showed that farming conditions have a significant influence on the fatty acid composition of rainbow trout. The predominant saturated fatty acid (SFA) was palmitic acid, oleic acid was the main monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), while the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were the main long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). The percentage of DHA exceeded that of EPA in all rainbow trout samples studied. The n-6/n-3 ratio ranged from 0.89 to 1.54 and the PUFA/SFA ratio was between 1.81 and 2.36. In dorsal and ventral fillet parts, the content of most fatty acids was similar, exceptions were observed for some PUFAs; arachidonic acid, EPA and DHA