Consumer awareness of the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids is growing and is driving their demand for enriched food products. Also, broiler meat consumption in the world increases annually with the development of modern diet patterns. Fortification of meat with n-3 fatty acids is an opportunity for the broiler production sector to add value to their product. The incorporation of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) into animal diets has been shown to increase the omega-3 fatty acid content of the foods they produce, thus offering consumers an easy way to boost their intake of omega-3 fatty acids without altering their diet. Food products such as eggs, milk, beef, poultry, and pork with higher omega-3 fatty acid levels could provide health benefits to all social classes due to their generally wide consumption.
Why Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Essential?
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n-3) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) in mammals and birds because it must be ingested and cannot be synthesized de novo. Through desaturation and elongation, ALA can be converted into long-chain fatty acids (FA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), which is important for health and development. Another critical group of fatty acids is omega-6 fatty acid (n-6 FA), for which the precursor is linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n-6). There is direct competition between omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids for the same enzymes required for the biosynthesis into long-chain fatty acids. This competition may cause issues when the consumption of one group of fatty acids far outweighs the other.
Biosynthesis of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Dietary fatty acids could be absorbed and deposited in the body tissue of broiler chickens without any modifications. Thus, the lipid composition of broiler chicken meat could be altered according to the fatty acid profile of the dietary lipid sources.
Incorporating omega-3s into broiler feed has been associated with various benefits:
Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization.
- Skeletal Development.
- Immune Function.
- Meat Quality and Fatty Acid Profile.
How Do Omega-3 Fatty Acids Benefit Consumers?
Omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, are important anti-inflammatory agents. They mitigate the effects associated with proinflammatory cytokines in diseases such as coronary heart disease, major depression, ageing, cancer, and autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and lupus erythematosus. They also improve vision, skin, and the immune system.
Therefore, consumers may consider novel products enriched with n-3 PUFA to be a preferable way to achieve recommended intakes of these fatty acids.
ALPHALINOMEGA is an omega fatty acid supplement for omega-fortified chicken. It is an innovative poultry feed supplement that contains major essential fatty acids and can be easily administered via water. The enrichment of omega-3 fatty acids in poultry is directly linked to the amount provided via diet. ALPHALINOMEGA also helps in the high absorption of omega fatty acids (up to 98%) and improves FCR, leading to better weight gain and improved overall health of the poultry. Broilers fed with Alphalinomega enhance omega-3 fatty acid content in their meat.
Benefits:
- Increases omega-3 fatty acid content in meat.
- Decreases saturated and trans fatty acid content in meat.
- Strong antioxidants prevent severe inflammation of the tissue.
Reduces myopathies, woody breast, white striping and yields tender chicken.