The nutritional value of flaxseed meal (FSM), a by-product of the flax crushing industry, has not been evaluated properly for use within swine rations. A series of experiments were conducted to determine the nutritional profile of this novel feed ingredient for pigs.<p>The analysis of FSM revealed that it contains, on a dry matter (DM) basis, 133 g/kg ether extract (EE), 345 g/kg crude protein (CP), 60 g/kg ash, 164 g/kg ADF, 250 g/kg NDF, 102 g/kg crude fibre, 14 g/kg starch and 9 g/kg phosphorus. The gross energy (GE) content of the meal was 5.2 Mcal/kg DM. The ether extract fraction was characterized by, as a percent of total fat, 46.6% á-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. Palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids accounted for 9.5, 4.8, 20.7 and 18.4% of the total fat content respectively. The crude protein content was well balanced for all amino acids with the exception of lysine (4.1% of CP), the level of which falls below that of the requirements for growing pigs (5.3% of CP for pigs 20-50 kg). The apparent digestibility of DM, nitrogen, ash, EE and GE as well as determination of the DE and NE content of FSM was determined for both growing pigs (32 pigs, initial weight 70 ± 3 kg) and gestating sows (26 pigs, parities 2 4). Animals were fed wheat/barley based diets containing 0, 10, 20 or 30% FSM. Faecal grab samples were collected for 3 days after a dietary adaptation period. The apparent digestibility of nutrients in FSM was determined both by regression and by difference calculations. As calculated by difference, the apparent digestibility coefficients for DM, nitrogen, ash, and GE were 63.0, 60.8, 22.3 and 60.5% respectively for growing pigs. The values obtained for sows were 64.1, 58.8, 20.8, 94.9 and 65.4% for DM, nitrogen, ash, EE and GE respectively. The DE content was 3.37 Mcal/kg for growing pigs and 3.52 Mcal/kg for sows. Net energy was then estimated by use of a prediction equation to be 2.34 and 2.44 Mcal/kg for growing pigs and sows. <p>An experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performances and carcass fatty acid profiles of pigs fed with graded levels of FSM. A total of 200 pigs (100 barrows, 100 gilts; initial weight 32 ± 4 kg) were blocked by gender and housed in groups of 5 pigs per pen. The experiment was divided into three phases for pigs 32-60 kg, 60-85 kg and 85-115 kg. Each group was assigned to one of four dietary treatments containing 0, 5, 10 or 15% FSM at the expense of wheat and soybean meal. At the time of market, 6 pigs per treatment group were randomly selected for carcass fatty acid analysis, and backfat and rib-end loin samples were collected. The average daily gains, average daily feed intakes and gain to feed ratios were not affected by dietary treatment (P > 0.05). Inclusion of 15% dietary FSM increased the ALA content from 11 to 47 (± 0.8) mg/g of backfat (P < 0.001) and from 5 to 10 (± 0.4) mg/g of loin tissue (P < 0.001). Increasing dietary FSM decreased the saturated fatty acid content of backfat (P < 0.01). <p> The final experiment was designed to determine the availability of phosphorus in semi-synthetic diets containing FSM, and to determine the effects of microbial phytase inclusion of this availability. Five treatment groups, 8 barrows (45 ± 4 kg initial weight) each, were fed a diet containing 30% FSM with increasing levels of phytase (0, 575, 1185, 2400 and 2570 FTU/kg). Apparent P digestibility increased from 20.6 to 61.3% with the inclusion of up to 2570 FTU/kg microbial phytase (P < 0.001), and followed a quadratic response pattern with an R2 value of 0.96. A broken-line analysis estimated the optimal phytase inclusion level to be 1415 FTU/kg of diet. Inclusion of just 575 FTU/kg accounted for half of the response, improving the apparent P digestibility by 20% and reducing P excretion by 850 mg/kg dry matter intake.

Fish provides important nutrients, including the omega-3 fatty acids (£s-3 PUFAs) but it also contains toxic contaminants, such as mercury (Hg) that may decrease the advantage of fish consumption. Therefore, balancing the nutritional requirements for £s-3 PUFAs and risks associated with mercury is an important issue for fish consumption. The aim of this study is to analyze the fatty acid compositions and mercury concentrations of several common wild and farmed fishes in Taiwan in order to evaluate the potential health benefits and risks of fish consumption. Wild and farmed fish sample were collected between 2010 and 2012 from trawlings, local fish markets, and aquaculture farms in western Taiwan. A total of 32 species of fish were collected. Dorsal muscle was dissected, dried, and homogenized. The proximate composition including crude lipid, crude protein, moisture, ash, and fatty acid composition, as well as mercury concentration in the muscle were analyzed. The fishes that were investigated were lean to medium in fat content. Content of £s-3 PUFAs were higher in the carnivorous fishes (0.96¡Ó0.62 g/100 g flesh weight) than in the herbivorous or omnivorous species (0.86¡Ó0.35 g/100 g flesh weight). The crude lipid contents in the wild fishes (6.7¡Ó3.7%) were lower in crude lipid contents than their farmed counterparts (12.1¡Ó7.5%). Fish £s-3 PUFAs concentrations were significantly increased with crude lipid content (p< 0.05). Mean mercury concentrations of all samples (0.048¡Ó0.038 mg/kg flesh weight) were lower than the common food safety standard (0.5 mg/kg flesh weight). Similar to the £s-3 PUFAs, the mean mercury concentrations were higher in the carnivorous fishes (0.06¡Ó0.04 mg/kg flesh weight) than in the herbivorous and omnivorous fishes (0.02¡Ó0.01 mg/kg flesh weight) and higher in the wild fishes (0.052 mg/kg flesh weight) than farmed fishes (0.031 mg/kg flesh weight). From the results of the present study, we can conclude that: to obtain the health benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids with a safe amount of mercury intake, the consumption of high EPA+DHA species (EPA+DHA concentrations are higher than 2 g/100 g flesh weight), such as croaker twice a week (3 oz/serving), or medium EPA+DHA species (EPA+DHA concentrations are between 1.02 to 1.34 g/100 g flesh weight),like fourfinger threadfin, Belanger¡¦s croaker, blue mackerel, and flathead grey mullet 3-4 times a week are desirable. In the case of consume tilapia or milkfish (EPA+DHA concentrations are between 0.60 to 0.72 g/100 g flesh weight) for cardiovascular disease preventative purposes, daily consumption of the fishes are beneficial. Furthermore, those people who have potential cardiovascular disease should double the amount of fish consumption suggested above. Accordingly, for those in the tropical Asian region, consumption of the amount of fish intake stated in this thesis would not exceed the safe Hg intake limit.

Diets formulated to contain varying ratios of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids were fed to exercising yearlings to evaluate bone activity and inflammatory response. Nine Quarter Horse yearlings were arranged within a triplicated 3 X 3 Latin Square experimental design and fed one of three diets. Exercise protocol was designed to stimulate sub-clinical inflammation and normal bone response. Body weight and physical growth measurements were not different between groups (P > 0.05), and feed intake was similar between groups (P > 0.05). Horses consuming soybean oil (SBO) diet had lower fatty acid profiles (% by weight) of C16:0 and C16:1 (P < 0.05) when compared to horses consuming either corn oil (CO) or menhaden/corn oil (MCO) diets. Though numerically different, percentage changes in C16:0 and C16:1 were not different between diets (P < 0.05). Horses consuming MCO had significantly higher measurements of C20:4, C20:5 and C22:6 over the 28 day period when compared to horses consuming SBO or CO. Percent change in mean concentrations of C20:5 were significantly different between the MCO group and the SBO group (P < 0.05) with no observed difference between MCO and CO treatment groups. Overall mean carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) concentrations did not differ between diets (P > 0.05) nor was there a significant change from baseline values when compared to day 28 of the period. Mean Osteocalcin (OC) concentrations did not differ between treatments (P > 0.05). Numerically, OC levels were lower after 14 days, with subsequent increases occurring from day 14 to day 28; however, there was no significant day effect (P > 0.05). Mean measurements of PGE2 and fibrinogen, the two inflammation markers evaluated, did not differ among groups (P > 0.05). However, when fibrinogen data were normalized, horses consuming SBO had a significantly lower change in baseline values of fibrinogen compared to horses fed CO or MCO diets (P< 0.05). In general, horses fed SBO exhibited reduced levels of the inflammatory marker fibrinogen (P< 0.05). No other variable evaluated was influenced by the supplementation of varying ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids into the equine diet.

Two different studies were conducted to reduce the overall amount of omega-6 fatty acids in broiler chickens. The first experiment was performed to determine the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3 fatty acid combination on the omega-6 fatty acid accumulation in broiler chicken breast and thigh meat. Eight broilers from each treatment were processed at 4 and 6 weeks of age, respectively. Regarding the diets containing five different fat sources, broiler chickens fed CLA and fish oil diet had a lower C20:4 (arachidonic acid, AA, n-6) deposition but showed a higher n-3/n-6 ratio in breast and thigh meat than those fed a flaxseed oil diet and CLA and flaxseed oil diet (P < 0.05). The C20:4 and n-3/n-6 ratio of breast and thigh samples from fish oil diet was similar to those of the conjugated linoleic acid and fish oil combination diet (P > 0.05). However, the addition of CLA and fish oil to the diet resulted in a increase of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentration in broiler chicken breast and thigh meat when compared to that of fish oil diet (P<0.05). The second experiment was conducted based on six different combination of n-3 and n-9 fatty acids. One bird per pen was processed, and each bird was weighed, and blood, liver, breast and thigh samples from the bird were collected. Although the generation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was not affected due to combination of n-3 and n-9 fatty acids in our diets, the deposition of n-6 fatty acids including C18:2 and C20:4 was decreased in broiler chicken breast and/or thigh muscles as n-3 fatty acids were supplied to broiler chickens for 9 weeks. Eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5, EPA, n-3) addition to poultry diet (FEO) did not reduce the deposition of C18:2 and/or C20:4 as much as C22:6 (FDO) did. When C20:5 and C22:6 were blended to poultry diet (FHO) and fed to broiler chickens for 9 weeks, synergistic effects were observed. Reduction of C20:4 was obtained when FHO diet was fed to broiler chickens, and it may be induced due to decreased expression of delta-6 desaturase mRNA.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Bibliography: leaves 144-173.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

n-3 fettsyror har en avgörande roll som komponent av plasmamembranets fosfolipider och tillhör gruppen fleromättade fettsyror. n- 3 fettsyrorna har en inverkan på cellstruktur och funktion och viktiga fettsyror är dokosahexaensyra (DHA) och eikosapentaensyra (EPA). DHA och EPA bildas från Alfalinolensyra (ALA) som är essentiell, det vill säga att den måste tillföras via kosten därför att kroppen inte kan tillverka den själv. ALA måste därför tillföras antingen genom fisk-och skaldjursintag och då framförallt fet fisk eller genom kosttillskott. EPA och DHA finns främst i hjärnan som till 60 % består av fett. Förlossningsdepression är en åkomma som drabbar ungefär 10-20 % av barnafödande kvinnor. Det är en komplex åkomma som kan bero på olika miljöfaktorer, genetiska anlag men kan även bero på kosten. Förlossningsdepression kan bli allvarligt både för modern och för barnet. Syftet med den här studien var att genom vetenskapliga artiklar undersöka om n-3 fettsyror kan ha en inverkan vid förlossningsdepression och isåfall genom vilka mekanismer. Det finns idag inget konkret svar på om n-3 fettsyror kan hjälpa vid förlossningsdepression samtidigt som många studier inom området har gjorts. Denna studie hade därför som syfte att eventuellt kunna bidra med ytterligare kunskap om n-3 fettsyror och förlossningsdepression och om fettsyrorna verkligen hjälper. Resultaten från de sex artiklar i studien som undersöktes visade inte på någon tydlig koppling mellan halten av n-3 fettsyror och förlossningsdepression. I tre av de sex studierna kunde dock en liten effekt observeras. En studie visade också att en högre snarare än en lägre nivå av fettsyror kunde öka risken för depression. Det behövs fler studier inom området för att få ett konkret svar.

There is growing interest in the potential role of omega-3/fibre-rich seeds in attenuating obesity and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Preliminary data suggests that consumption of white Salvia hispanica L. (Salba&reg;) seeds prolongs satiety and may aid weight loss. This randomized, double-blind, parallel study assessed the efficacy and safety of Salvia hispanica in overweight/obese individuals with T2DM on weight, body composition, glycemic control and other CVD risk factors. Fifty-eight participants consumed a hypocaloric diet including Salvia hispanica or an energy-and-fibre-matched control over 24 weeks. Greater reductions in weight, waist circumference and inflammation occurred in the Salvia hispanica group versus control. There were no significant between-group differences in safety parameters, glycemic control or other CVD risk factors. Salvia hispanica seeds may support weight loss in overweight/obese individuals with T2DM. Further research is needed to determine whether these effects are maintained.

The effects of temperature, reaction time, and substrate concentration on the incorporation of decanoic acid (DA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), into cocoa butter, were compared, using an immobilized enzyme derived from Rhizomucor miehei. All variables had an effect on incorporation of DA and ALA into cocoa butter but effects were not equivalent for the two fatty acids. Thus, DA was not an adequate model fatty acid for the incorporation of ALA into cocoa butter. The highest ALA incorporation achieved was 77.3±1.3. Samples with ALA incorporated were prepared as “pure” and “blends”, and these exceeded the milk and dark chocolate Canadian Food and Drug Regulation guidelines for products making omega-3 fatty acid content claims. The highest %TAG content, 97.3±1.0%, was achieved for the 11.9wt% “blend” sample. Differential scanning calorimetry suggested that both “pure” and “blend” samples contained mainly form IV and V, with much smaller quantities of form II polymorphs.