Profiles of Serum Fatty Acids in Healthy Women on Different Types of Vegetarian Diets.

BACKGROUND: Plant-based dietary patterns are a source of different amounts and proportions of fatty acids (FAs) from those in traditional diets. Information about the full FAs profile provided by plant-based diets is widely lacking. The aim of this study was to present the exact serum profiles of FAs among people on a plant-based diet compared with omnivorous subjects. METHODS: FAs compositions and inflammation statuses (based on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels) were studied in serum samples obtained from 102 female volunteers (divided into four groups: vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, and omnivores). The quality of the volunteers' diets was assessed based on seven-day dietary records. RESULTS: Both vegans and vegetarians had lower total n-3 PUFAs, EPA, and DHA serum levels than omnivores. Decreased levels of these FAs presumably did not cause inflammation in vegetarians and vegans, as vegetarians had similar serum levels of CRP compared to omnivores, and vegans had even lower levels. CONCLUSION: The analysis of serum FAs and CRP levels in vegetarians and vegans suggests that factors other than diet alone influence inflammation and overall health status. Further research on long-term plant-based diet users is needed to better understand this issue, and supplementation with EPA and DHA is worth considering in vegans and vegetarians.

The fatty acid profile and the quality of breast and leg muscles in female and male pearl gray guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) profile and the quality of breast and leg muscles in male and female guinea fowl. In comparison with leg muscles, breast muscles had a higher content of dry matter and total protein, and contained less fat and total collagen (P ≤ 0.05). Sex had no effect on the chemical composition of the studied muscles or the FA profile of intramuscular fat (IMF) (P > 0.05). The IMF of breast muscles was characterized by higher proportions of total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and lower proportions of total unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) (P ≤ 0.05) than the IMF of leg muscles. The physicochemical properties of guinea fowl meat were significantly influenced by muscle type (P ≤ 0.05), but not by sex (P > 0.05). Leg muscles were characterized by a higher pH, higher cooking loss, lower lightness (L*), lower drip loss, a higher contribution of redness (a*), and a lower contribution of yellowness (b*) than breast muscles (P ≤ 0.05). The experimental factors had no effect on the sensory attributes or the shear force values of the analyzed muscles (P > 0.05). The unique sensory attributes, high protein content, and low fat content of the analyzed muscles indicate that guinea fowl meat can be a dietary supplement and an addition to other types of meat consumed, especially that most guinea fowl are reared in extensive farming systems that contribute to sustainable food production.

Multilocus functional characterization of indigenous and exotic inbreds for dgat1-2, fatb, ge2 and wri1a genes affecting kernel oil and fatty acid profile in maize.

Demand for maize oil is progressively increasing due to its diverse industrial applications, aside from its primary role in human nutrition and animal feed. Oil content and composition are two crucial determinants of maize oil in the international market. As kernel oil in maize is a complex quantitative trait, improving this trait presents a challenge for plant breeders and biotechnologists. Here, we characterized a set of 292 diverse maize inbreds of both indigenous and exotic origin by exploiting functional polymorphism of the dgat1-2, fatb, ge2, and wri1a genes governing kernel oil in maize. Genotyping using gene-based functional markers revealed a lower frequencies of dgat1-2 (0.15) and fatb (0.12) mutant alleles and a higher frequencies of wild-type alleles (Dgat1-2: 0.85; fatB: 0.88). The favorable wri1a allele was conserved across genotypes, while its wild-type allele (WRI1a) was not detected. In contrast, none of the genotypes possessed the ge2 favorable allele. The frequency of favorable alleles of both dgat1-2 and fatb decreased to 0.03 when considered together. Furthermore, pairwise protein-protein interactions among target gene products were conducted to understand the effect of one protein on another and their responses to kernel oil through functional enrichments. Thus, the identified maize genotypes with dgat1-2, fatb, and wri1a favourable alleles, along with insights gained through the protein-protein association network, serve as prominent and unique genetic resources for high-oil maize breeding programs. This is the first comprehensive report on the functional characterization of diverse genotypes at the molecular and protein levels.

Dietary Supplementation with Oregano and Linseed in Autochthonous "Facciuta Lucana" Goats: Effects on Meat Quality Traits in Suckling Kids.

Extruded linseed (Linum usitatissimum) in ruminant diets has been investigated as a strategy to improve the nutritional value and healthiness of meat fat; however, increased polyunsaturated fatty acids may limit the shelf-life of meat. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) has a documented antioxidant activity. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with extruded linseed and oregano on goat milk quality and whether the characteristics of goat milk affect the physical and chemical features, fatty acid profile, meat lipid oxidation, and sensory properties of meat from suckling kids. Thirty-six male kids were weaned and divided into three homogeneous groups (n = 12); each group was either fed a control diet (C), or a diet containing 3% extruded linseed with or without the addition of 0.6% oregano ("L + O" and "L", respectively). The diets containing linseed lowered (p < 0.05) the saturated fatty acid content in meat, and increased (p < 0.05) monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. Oregano addition to the linseed diet proved to be effective in preserving meat shelf-life, as shown by a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in the malondialdehyde concentration after 10 days of storage, and improved meat succulence, tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptance.

Fatty Acids Profile and the Relevance of Membranes as the Target of Nutrition-Based Strategies in Atopic Dermatitis: A Narrative Review.

Recently, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis has increased drastically, especially in urban populations. This multifactorial skin disease is caused by complex interactions between various factors including genetics, environment, lifestyle, and diet. In eczema, apart from using an elimination diet, the adequate content of fatty acids from foods (saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids) plays an important role as an immunomodulatory agent. Different aspects regarding atopic dermatitis include connections between lipid metabolism in atopic dermatitis, with the importance of the MUFA levels, as well as of the omega-6/omega-3 balance that affects the formation of long-chain (C20 eicosanoic and C22 docosaenoic) fatty acids and bioactive lipids from them (such as prostaglandins). Impair/repair of the functioning of epidermal barrier is influenced by these fatty acid levels. The purpose of this review is to drive attention to membrane fatty acid composition and its involvement as the target of fatty acid supplementation. The membrane-targeted strategy indicates the future direction for dermatological research regarding the use of nutritional synergies, in particular using red blood cell fatty acid profiles as a tool for checking the effects of supplementations to reach the target and influence the inflammatory/anti-inflammatory balance of lipid mediators. This knowledge gives the opportunity to develop personalized strategies to create a healthy balance by nutrition with an anti-inflammatory outcome in skin disorders.

Impact of varying levels of pasture allowance on the nutritional quality and functionality of milk throughout lactation.

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of increasing proportions of grazed pasture in the diet on the composition, quality, and functionality of bovine milk across a full lactation. Fifty-four spring-calving cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (n = 18), blocked on the basis of mean calving date (February 15, 2020 ± 0.8 d), pre-experimental daily milk yield (24.70 ± 3.70 kg), milk solids yield (2.30 ± 0.27 kg), lactation number (3.10 ± 0.13), and economic breeding index (182 ± 19). Raw milk samples were obtained weekly from each group between March and November 2020. Group 1 (GRS) consumed perennial ryegrass and was supplemented with 5% concentrates (dry matter basis); group 2 was maintained indoors and consumed a total mixed ration (TMR) diet consisting of maize silage, grass silage, and concentrates; and group 3 consumed a partial mixed ration diet (PMR), rotating between perennial ryegrass during the day and indoor TMR feeding at night. Raw milk samples consisted of a pooled morning and evening milking and were analyzed for gross composition, free amino acids, fatty acid composition, heat coagulation time, color, fat globule size, and pH. The TMR milks had a significantly higher total solids, lactose, protein, and whey protein as a proportion of protein content compared with both GRS and PMR milks. The GRS milks demonstrated a significantly lower somatic cell count (SCC), but a significantly higher pH and b*-value than both TMR and PMR milks. The PMR milks exhibited significantly lower total solids and fat content, but also demonstrated significantly higher SCC and total free amino acid content compared with GRS and TMR. Partial least squares discriminant analysis of fatty acid profiles displayed a distinct separation between GRS and TMR samples, while PMR displayed an overlap between both GRS and TMR groupings. Variable importance in projection analysis identified conjugated linoleic acid cis-9,trans-11, C18:2n-6 cis, C18:3n-3, C11:0, and C18:2n-6 trans as the largest contributors to the variation between the diets. Milk fats derived from GRS diets exhibited the highest proportion of unsaturated fats and higher unsaturation, health-promoting, and desaturase indices. The lowest proportions of saturated fats and the lowest atherogenic index were also exhibited by GRS-derived milk fats. This work highlights the positive influence of grass-fed milk for human consumption through its more nutritionally beneficial fatty acid profile, despite the highest milk solid percentages derived from TMR feeding systems. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the proportional response of previously highlighted biomarkers of pasture feeding to the proportion of pasture in the cow's diet.

Polymorphisms at Candidate Genes for Fat Content and Fatty Acids Composition: Effects on Sheep Milk Production and Fatty Acid Profile Using Two Dietary Supplementations.

The nutritional value of sheep's milk and its derivatives is influenced by the lipid fraction, which is affected by diet and genetics. This study aimed to explore the genetic variations in the DGAT1 and SCD genes and assessed the impact of the DGAT1 genotype on milk quality in Valle del Belìce sheep, considering diet supplementation with carob pulp and barley grain. Among the potentially polymorphic sites, only DGAT1 g.127 C > A and SCD g.87 C > A showed variability. The DGAT1 genotype did not significantly impact milk yield and composition, except for higher urea content in the CA genotypes than in the CC ones. Carob pulp increased the milk fat content compared to barley grain. Genetic variation in DGAT1 was associated with changes in the milk fatty acid profile; specifically, the CA genotype exhibited higher levels of short-chain fatty acids and lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to the CC genotype. Carob pulp supplementation increased saturated fatty acids and reduced unsaturated fractions, leading to milk with higher atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. No significant interaction was found between genotype and diet. This study provides insights into the genetic and dietary factors influencing sheep's milk composition. Further research is needed to understand the impact of these genetic variations on milk production and composition, as well as to determine optimal levels of carob pulp for improving fat percentage and promoting sustainable sheep breeding practices.

Effects of multiple vitamin E levels and two fat sources in diets for swine fed to heavy slaughter weight of 150 kg: II. Tissue fatty acid profile, vitamin E concentrations, immune capacity, and antioxidant capacity of plasma and tissue.

The study objective was to evaluate the effect of two fat sources and graded levels of vitamin E (VE) supplementation on tissue fatty acid profile, VE concentrations, immune capacity, and antioxidant capacity of plasma and tissues of pigs at heavy slaughter weight (150 kg). A total of 48 individually-fed pigs (24 barrows, 24 gilts; 28.44 ±â€…2.69 kg) were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. The two fat treatments were either 5% tallow (TW) or 5% distiller's corn-oil (DCO). The VE treatments included four levels of α-tocopheryl-acetate (11, 40, 100, and 200 ppm). Compared to pigs fed the DCO diet, pigs fed the TW diet had greater SFA (C14, C16, and C18; P < 0.05) and MUFAs (C14:1, C16:1, C18:1, and C20:1; P < 0.05), lower PUFA (C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3, C20:2, C20:3, and C20:4; P < 0.05) and iodine value in the backfat and belly fat. Increasing dietary VE supplementation level increased α- and total tocopherol concentrations in plasma (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05), liver, and loin muscle (linear, P < 0.06), superoxide dismutase activity (quadratic, P < 0.05), but decreased γ-tocopherol concentrations in liver (linear, P = 0.06), plasma, and loin muscle (quadratic, P < 0.07), and decreased liver glutathione disulfide (GSSG; linear, P = 0.07) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (quadratic, P < 0.05). There was an interaction between fat sources and dietary VE supplementation level on the concentration of α-tocopherol in the loin muscle (P < 0.05) wherein a greater increase was observed in the TW treatment than the DCO treatment with the increasing dietary VE supplementation level. In conclusion, dietary FA composition in TW and DCO affected the composition of most FA in backfat, belly fat, and liver while increasing VE supplementation level did not significantly alter the FA profile in these tissues. Increasing dietary VE supplementation level increased tocopherol concentrations in plasma, liver and loin muscle, and improved antioxidant capacity while tocopherol concentrations in plasma, liver and loin muscle in the TW treatment increased more than they did in the DCO treatment.

Dietary Supplementation with Rutin Alters Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Profile, Antioxidant Capacity, and Expression Levels of Genes Associated with Lipid Metabolism in Breast Muscle of Qingyuan Partridge Chickens.

Consumer demand for tasty and quality meat has been quickly increasing. This study investigated how dietary supplemented rutin affects meat quality, muscle fatty acid profile, and antioxidant capacity in the Chinese indigenous Qingyuan partridge chicken. A cohort of 180 healthy 119-day-old chickens was subjected to a randomized assignment into three groups, identified as the control, R200, and R400 groups, with respective supplementation of 0, 200, and 400 mg/kg of rutin. The results revealed insignificance in growth performance, namely, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed-to-gain ratio, across the various treatment groups (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, dietary rutin supplementation increased (p < 0.05) breast muscle yield and intramuscular fat content in breast muscle and decreased (p < 0.05) drip loss in breast muscle. Rutin supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the content of high-density lipoprotein but decreased (p < 0.05) the contents of glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in serum. Rutin supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the levels of DHA (C22:6n-3), total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n-3 PUFAs, decanoic acid (C10:0), the activity of Δ5 + Δ6 (22:6 (n - 3)/18:3 (n - 3)), and the ratio of PUFA/SFA in breast muscle but decreased (p < 0.05) the level of palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7), the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs, and the activity of Δ9 (16:1 (n - 7)/16:0). Rutin treatment also reduced (p < 0.05) the contents of malondialdehyde in serum and breast muscle, and increased (p < 0.05) the catalase activity and total antioxidant capacity in serum and breast muscle and the activity of total superoxide dismutase in serum. Additionally, rutin supplementation downregulated the expression of AMPKα and upregulated the expression of PPARG, FADS1, FAS, ELOVL7, NRF2, and CAT in breast muscle (p < 0.05). Convincingly, the results revealed that rutin supplementation improved meat quality, fatty acid profiles, especially n-3 PUFAs, and the antioxidant capacity of Qingyuan partridge chickens.

Phytase Supplementation of Growing-Finishing Pig Diets with Extruded Soya Seeds and Rapeseed Meal Improves Bone Mineralization and Carcass and Meat Quality.

The aim of this study was to determine how different doses of phytase in diets with extruded soybean seeds and rapeseed meal affected pigs' growth performance, meat quality, bone mineralization, and fatty acid profiles. Sixty pigs were divided into three treatments by sex and body mass. Pigs were divided into starter (25 days), grower (36 days), and finisher (33 days) periods and fed with mash diets. No phytase was used in the control group diet, whereas in Phy1 and Phy2, 100 g and 400 g of phytase per ton of mixture were used, respectively. The feed conversion ratio and meat color were significantly correlated with phytase. Phytase supplementation had no effect on the growth of pigs, but total phosphorus was significantly increased in the bones and meat of the pigs. The enzyme additive reduced the C22:4 n-6 acid content in the meat, whereas other results were not significantly affected. The data suggest that the addition of phytase at a dosage of 100 g/ton to diets with extruded full-fat soya seeds and rapeseed meal can be valuable, as it reduces the FCR and increases the P content in the meat and bones.

Impact of dietary vitamin (E) and Eruca sativa seeds powder on broiler productivity, health, carcass characteristics, and meat quality.

This investigation examined the impact of nutritional vitamin E (VE) and Eruca sativa seeds powder (ESSP) on broilers' performance, physiological, and meat quality. A total of 350 two-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used in this study. Chicks were allocated into five dietary treatments as follows: control (fed a basic diet), VE treatment (fed a basic diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg diet), the third, fourth, and fifth treatments were fed a basic diet supplied by different levels of ESSP (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg diet). Outcomes showed that chicks of VE treatment or ESSP (0.2 g/kg) significantly improved vital body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Additionally, relevant dressing and hind parts of the carcass for birds of VE treatment or ESSP at different levels were significantly increased. The results showed a significant improvement in meat quality traits. Moreover, ESSP (0.1 and 0.2 g/kg) groups represented a significant decrease in the total bacterial count and E. coli compared with other groups. In conclusion, ESSP positively affected broiler performance, hematological, and immunological indices, carcass characteristics, intestinal bacterial count, meat quality, and cooking properties of the resulting meat, especially at the level of (0.2 g/kg).

Animal protein-soybean oil-based broiler diet optimizes net profit at the expense of desirable ω-6 fatty acids from the breast muscle of the broiler chicken.

Total 288 Ross-308-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into six dietary treatment groups in a two-way ANOVA with 2 × 3 factorial arrangements (two factors, i.e., dietary protein and energy having two types of protein, e.g., plant, animal and three different sources of energy, e.g., soybean oil, rice bran oil and sunflower oil) to justify if animal protein-soybean oil based broiler diet optimizes net profit at the expense of desirable ω-6 fatty acids in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), final live weight (FLW), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), carcass characteristics, cardio-pulmonary morphometry, fatty acid profile of the breast muscle and cost-benefit analysis were measured. Results indicated that animal protein significantly increased 4.27% FLW, 6.13% ADFI, 4.31% ADG and 2.93% wing weight. Accordingly, soybean oil increased 4.76% FLW, 3.80% ADG and 1.36% dressing percentage at the expense of 12.07% proventriculus weight compared with sunflower oil. The generalized linear model identified no interaction effects of the sources of protein and energy on overall performance of the birds. Replacement of vegetable protein by animal protein decreased 14.01% ∑ω-3, 12.16% ∑ω-6 and 12.21% sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (∑PUFA) and concomitantly increased 10.82% sum of saturated fatty acids (∑SFAs) in the breast muscle (Pectoralis major). Accordingly, replacement of sunflower oil by soybean oil decreased 29.17% ∑ω-3, 6.71% ∑ω-6, 11.62% sum of monounsaturated fatty acids (∑MUFAs) and 7.33% ∑PUFAs and concurrently increased 18.36% ∑SFAs in the breast muscle of the broiler birds. It was concluded that animal protein-soybean oil-based broiler diet optimized net profit at the expense of desirable ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken.

Proximate Composition and Nutritional Values of Selected Wild Plants of the United Arab Emirates.

Wild plants supply food and shelter to several organisms; they also act as important sources of many nutrients and pharmaceutical agents for mankind. These plants are widely used in traditional medicinal systems and folk medicines. The present study analyzed the nutritional and proximate composition of various compounds in selected wild plants available in the UAE, viz., Chenopodium murale L., Dipterygium glaucum Decne., Heliotropium digynum Asch. ex C.Chr., Heliotropium kotschyi Gürke., Salsola imbricata Forssk., Tribulus pentandrus Forssk., Zygophyllum qatarense Hadidi. The predominant amino acids detected in the plants were glycine, threonine, histidine, cysteine, proline, serine, and tyrosine; the highest quantities were observed in H. digynum and T. pentandrus. The major fatty acids present were long-chain saturated fatty acids; however, lauric acid was only present in S. imbricata. The presence of essential fatty acids such as oleic acid, α-Linoleic acid, and linolenic acid was observed in H. digynum, S. imbricata, and H. kotschyi. These plants also exhibited higher content of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, ash, and fiber. The predominant vitamins in the plants were vitamin B complex and vitamin C. C. murale had higher vitamin A, whereas vitamin B complex was seen in T. pentandrus and D. glaucum. The phosphorus and zinc content were high in T. pentandrus; the nitrogen, calcium, and potassium contents were high in H. digynum, and D. glaucum. Overall, these plants, especially H. digynum and T. pentandrus contain high amounts of nutritionally active compounds and important antioxidants including trace elements and vitamins. The results from the experiment provide an understanding of the nutritional composition of these desert plant species and can be better utilized as important agents for pharmacological drug discovery, food, and sustainable livestock production in the desert ecosystem.

Performance and milk fatty acid profile of beef cows with a different energy status with short nutrient restriction and refeeding.

Our study objective was to determine the effect of a short feed restriction (4 d) and subsequent refeeding (4 d) on the performance and metabolism of beef cows with a different nutritional status by particularly focusing on their milk fatty acid (FA) profile, to consider its potential use as biomarker of metabolic status. Thirty-two Parda de Montaña multiparous lactating beef cows were individually fed a diet based on the average cow's net energy (NE) and metabolizable protein requirements. At 58 d in milk (DIM, day 0), cows underwent a 4 d feed restriction (55% requirements, restriction period). Before and after the restriction, diets met 100% of their requirements (basal and refeeding periods). Cow performance, milk yield and composition, and plasma metabolites, were determined on day -2, 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8. Cows were classified into two status clusters according to their pre-challenge performance and energy balance (EB) (Balanced vs. Imbalanced). All traits were statistically analyzed considering the fixed effect of status cluster and feeding period or day, with cow as a random effect. Imbalanced cows were heavier and had a more negative EB (P < 0.001), but similar milk yield, milk composition, and circulating metabolites (except for greater urea) than Balanced cows (P > 0.10). Milk contents of C18:1 cis-9, monounsaturated FA (MUFA), and mobilization FA were greater (P < 0.05), whereas saturated FA (SFA) and de novo FA were lesser in Imbalanced than Balanced cows (P < 0.05). Restriction decreased body weight (BW), milk yield, and milk protein compared to the basal period, but increased milk urea and plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) (P < 0.001). Milk contents of SFA, de novo, and mixed FA decreased immediately during the restriction, while MUFA, polyunsaturated FA and mobilization FA increased (P < 0.001). Basal milk FA contents were recovered on day 2 of refeeding, and all their changes strongly correlated with differences in EB and NEFA (P < 0.05). The general lack of interactions between status clusters and feeding periods implied that the response mechanisms to diet changes did not differ between cows with a different pre-challenge nutritional status.

Lactating cows can undergo periods with a negative energy balance due to feed shortages, which trigger metabolic adaptations to support cow maintenance and milk yield. We explored beef cows' response to a short feed restriction (4 d, 55% of their energy and protein requirements) and subsequent refeeding (4 d, 100% of their energy and protein requirements) in the second month of lactation. We analyzed the effect on their performance and metabolism by placing special emphasis on milk production and milk fatty acid composition in two beef cow groups with a different nutritional status before the challenge. When cows faced a food restriction, both groups had similar changes in productive and metabolic traits. These changes are similar to those occurring in restricted dairy cows, but of lesser magnitude due to the lower milk yield and associated metabolic load of beef cows. The milk fatty acid profile, rarely analyzed in beef cows, proved to be an accurate indicator of their metabolic status.

Effect of the Bleaching Process on Changes in the Fatty Acid Profile of Raw Hemp Seed Oil (Cannabis sativa).

Many refined oils from soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower, among others, are available on the food market, except olive oil. Refining, on the small production scale of niche oils, is not used due to the high cost of the refining process. Unrefined oils are characterized by intense taste, odor, color, and undesirable nutrients. The problem to be solved is determining the effects of incomplete refining of niche oils on their composition. One process, which does not require the use of complex apparatus, is the bleaching process. The results presented in this article relate to the research stage, in which the aim is to evaluate the changes occurring in the oil due to the low-temperature bleaching process with different process parameters. The presented research results provide evidence of the absence of adverse changes in the fatty acid profile of hemp oil of the varieties 'Finola', 'Earlina 8FC', and 'Secuieni Jubileu'. Seven different types of bleaching earth were used to bleach the oil in amounts of 2.5 and 5 g/100 g of vegetable oil. The fatty acid profile was obtained by gas chromatography (GC-FID). The obtained chromatograms were subjected to statistical analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The results show that there was no effect of the type of bleaching earth and its amount on the change in the fatty acid profile of bleached oils. Only real differences between the types of hemp oils were observed. However, an overall positive effect of the bleaching process on hemp oil was found. The amount of saturated fatty acid (SFA) was reduced by 17.1% compared with the initial value, resulting in an increase in the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) by 4.4%, resulting in an unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) proportion of 90%. There was a significant improvement in the SFA/PUFA ratio by 26% over the baseline, and the omega-6/omega-3 ratio by 8.9% to a value of 3.1:1. The new knowledge from this study is evidence of the positive effect of the low-temperature bleaching process on the fatty acid profile. In contrast, the parameters of the bleaching process itself are not significant.

Replacing soybean meal with high-oil pumpkin seed cake in the diet of lactating Holstein dairy cows modulated rumen bacteria and milk fatty acid profile.

This research aimed to investigate the effects of replacing soybean meal with high-oil pumpkin seed cake (HOPSC) on ruminal fermentation, lactation performance, milk fatty acid, and ruminal bacterial community in Chinese dairy cows. Six multiparous Chinese Holstein cows at 105.50 ± 5.24 d in milk (mean ± standard deviation) and 36.63 ± 0.74 kg/d of milk yield were randomly allocated, in a 3 × 3 Latin square design, to 3 dietary treatments in which HOPSC replaced soybean meal. Group 1 was the basal diet with no HOPSC (0HOPSC); group 2 was a 50% replacement of soybean meal with HOPSC and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 50HOPSC), and group 3 was a 100% replacement of soybean meal with HOPSC and DDGS (100HOPSC). We found no difference in the quantity of milk produced or milk composition among the 3 treatment groups. Feed efficiency tended to increase linearly as more HOPSC was consumed. In addition, rumen fermentation was not influenced when soybean meal was replaced with HOPSC and DDGS; the relative abundance of ruminal bacteria at the phylum and genus levels was altered. We also observed that as the level of HOPSC supplementation increased, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Tenericutes linearly increased, whereas that of Bacteroidetes decreased. However, with increasing HOPSC supplementation, the relative abundance of Ruminococcus decreased linearly at the genus level in the rumen, and the relative abundance of Prevotella showed a linear downward tendency. Changes in dietary composition and rumen bacteria had no significant effect on the fatty acid composition of milk. In conclusion, our results indicated that replacing soybean meal with a combination of HOPSC and DDGS can meet the nutritional needs of high-yielding dairy cows without adversely affecting milk yield and quality; however, the composition of rumen bacteria could be modified. Further study is required to investigate the effects of long-term feeding of HOPSC on rumen fermentation and performance of dairy cows.

Changes in the gene expression profile of the mammary gland lipogenic enzymes in Saanen goats in response to dietary fats.

BACKGROUND: The second half of the first pregnancy is a critical period in the growth and development of the mammary gland. The use of functional compounds during this period may positively impact livestock performance. OBJECTIVES: In this study, changes in lipogenic enzyme gene expression in the mammary gland of Saanen goats in response to different dietary fat sources were analysed. METHODS: Goats from four groups (10 each) received these diets from the last two months of pregnancy through four months of lactation: C-, no added fat (negative control group), C+, with saturated palm oil (positive control group), SB, with roasted soybeans (omega-6 group) and FS, with extruded flaxseed (omega-3 group). The fat content was about 4% of dry matter. Milk yield, milk fatty acid profile, milk health index (HI) and gene expression of four lipogenic enzymes in mammary tissue were measured. RESULTS: The FS group had significantly higher milk production with lower omega-6 to omega-3, monounsaturated to polyunsaturated, and total saturated fatty acids compared to other groups. The shorter and longer than16-carbon chain of total milk fatty acid indicates significantly higher values for the C- and C+ groups, respectively. The milk HI for the SB group was significantly higher. The gene expression profile for acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase was higher in the C- group than other experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that manipulation of the diet with unsaturated fat supplements improved milk production, synthesis of milk fat and molecular expression of lipogenic enzymes in mammary tissue in primiparous Saanen goats.

Time-dependent metabolome and fatty acid profile changes following a high-fat diet exposure in Drosophila melanogaster.

High-fat diets (HFDs) are often used to study metabolic disorders using different animal models. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms pertaining to the concurrent loss of metabolic homeostasis characteristics of these disorders are still unclear mainly because the effects of such diets are also dependent on the time frame of the experiments. Here, we used the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to investigate the metabolic dynamic effects following 0, 2, 4, 7 and 9 days of an exposure to a HFD (standard diet supplemented with 20% w/v coconut oil, rich in 12:0 and 14:0) by combining NMR metabolomics and GC-FID fatty acid profiling. Our results show that after 2 days, the ingested 12:0 and 14:0 fatty acids are used for both lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. After 4 days, metabolites from several different pathways are highly modulated in response to the HFD, and an accumulation of 12:0 is also observed, suggesting that the balance of lipid, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism is profoundly perturbed at this specific time point. Following a longer exposure to the HFD (and notably after 9 days), an accumulation of many metabolites is observed indicating a clear dysfunction of the metabolic system. Overall, our study highlights the relevance of the Drosophila model to study metabolic disorders and the importance of the duration of the exposure to a HFD to study the dynamics of the fundamental mechanisms that control metabolism following exposure to dietary fats. This knowledge is crucial to understand the development and progression of metabolic diseases.

Influence of free fatty acid content and degree of fat saturation in laying hen diets on egg quality, yolk fatty acid profile, and cholesterol content.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary free fatty acid (FFA) content and the degree of saturation on egg quality, yolk fatty acid (FA) profile, and yolk cholesterol content. For a 15-wk period, a total of 144 laying hens (19-wk-old) were randomly assigned to 8 treatments arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial design, with 2 sources of crude oil (soybean oil and palm oil) and 4 levels of FFA (10, 20, 30, and 45%). The dietary treatments were achieved by progressively substituting the original oils with equivalent amounts of their corresponding acid oils (soybean acid oil and palm fatty acid distillate, respectively). No differences in ADFI or egg mass were found. However, dietary FFA reduced egg production (linear, P < 0.05) and increased the feed conversion ratio (linear, P < 0.05). Higher levels of FFA in soybean diets resulted in higher egg weight with higher albumen and yolk weights (linear, P < 0.01). Palm diets presented higher yolk:albumen ratio than soybean diets (P < 0.001), but the effect of FFA did not follow a linear trend. Hens fed soybean diets laid eggs with higher Haugh units (HU) than palm diets (P < 0.001), although increasing the dietary FFA% reduced the HU values in both (linear, P < 0.001). Palm diets enhanced shell quality with greater resistance to breakage, and higher dry matter and ash content than soybean diets (P < 0.05). No differences in egg chemical composition and yolk cholesterol content were found (P > 0.05). The saturation degree had a significant effect on all the analyzed yolk FA (P < 0.001) except for arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6), whereas increasing the FFA content did not affect to a great extent. These results show that varying dietary FFA level did not affect egg quality and yolk composition as much as the dietary fat source did, supporting the use of acid oils and fatty acid distillates as fat ingredients for feed.