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Maternal diet with diverse omega-6-omega-3 ratio affects the brain docosahexaenoic acid content of growing chickens

Ajuyah, Asifo O. and Wang, Y. and Sunwoo, H. and Cherian, G. and Sim, J.S. (2003) Maternal diet with diverse omega-6-omega-3 ratio affects the brain docosahexaenoic acid content of growing chickens. Biology of the Neonate, 84 (1). pp. 45-52. ISSN 0006-3126

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Abstract

Eggs with diverse omega-6/omega-3 ratio produced by feeding breeder hens a wheat-soybean meal-basal diet containing 5% (wt/wt) sunflower oil (H(omega)6), 5% fish oil (H(omega)3) or 2.5% sunflower oil plus 2.5% fish oil (M(omega)3omega6) were incubated. The hatched chicks were fed a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-deficient diet up to 6 weeks of age. The fatty acid composition of chick brain was determined on 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks and brain weight was taken on day 0 and day 42. The omega-6/omega-3 ratios were 37.12, 4.21 and 0.98 for the maternal diet; 28.36, 2.83 and 0.89 for the egg yolk; 1.94, 0.48 and 0.18 for hatched chick brain (p < 0.05). At 2 weeks of age, the omega-6/omega-3 ratios were 1.88, 0.81 and 0.60 for chicks hatched from hens fed H(omega)6, M(omega)3omega6 and H(omega)3 diets, respectively. The brain DHA contents at 0 and 2 weeks of age were Homega3 > M(omega)3omega6 < H(omega)6 (p < 0.05) and at 4 and 6 weeks of age H(omega)3 = M(omega)3omega6 > H(omega)6. Dietary C18:3omega3 in the starter and finisher diet did not increase brain DHA (p > 0.05). The significant increase in the content of C22:5omega3 at 6 weeks of age in group 1 birds with a concomitant reduction in DHA suggests a weak delta-4 desaturation but an effective delta-6 and delta-5 desaturation similar to human infants. Considering the role of DHA in early brain development and growth, the maternal supply of DHA during growth might be of importance when fed a DHA-deficient neonatal diet.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: T Technology > TX Home economics
Divisions: Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Agriculture and Food Technology
Depositing User: Ms Mereoni Camailakeba
Date Deposited: 23 Apr 2003 07:14
Last Modified: 05 Jul 2012 02:21
URI: https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/2761

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