Omega-3 fatty acid and cholesterol content of newly hatched chicks from α-linolenic acid enriched eggs

Egg yolk was enriched with α-linolenic acid (18∶3n−3) by feeding laying hens diets containing flax, canola or soybean seeds. Fertilized eggs were incubated and the fatty acid composition of whole body, liver, plasma, brain and the cholesterol content of plasma and liver tissue of the hatched chicks were studied. Eggs enriched with 18∶2n−6 fatty acids by feeding hens diets containing sunflower seeds were used as the controls. Feeding flax enriched (P<0.05) egg yolk and the developing progeny with 18∶3n−3, 20∶5n−3, 22∶5n−3 and 22∶6n−3. Feeding sunflower seeds resulted in an increase (P<0.05) of 18∶2n−6, 20∶4n−6, 22∶4n−6 and 22∶5n−6. The predominant polyunsaturated fatty acid of the brain was docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3) which was higher (P<0.05) in the flax and canola fed group. The cholesterol content of the liver tissue was lower (P<0.05) in chicks hatched from hens fed flax seeds. This study indicates that 18∶3n−3 and 18∶2n−6 in the maternal diet are potent modulators of long-chain polyunsaturated n−3 or n−6 fatty acid and of cholesterol content in the developing progeny.