M. Grung et al., THE CAROTENOIDS OF EGGS OF WILD AND FARMED COD (GADUS-MORHUA), Comparative biochemistry and physiology. B. Comparative biochemistry, 106(2), 1993, pp. 237-242
1. Eggs of wild cod, and of farmed cod fed (a) a diet supplemented wit
h astaxanthin and (b) a diet supplemented with both astaxanthin and ca
nthaxanthin, were analysed with respect to carotenoids. 2. The total c
arotenoid contents in eggs were 0.7 ppm for wild cod and 0.5 ppm for f
armed cod. 3. Cod, having white flesh, deposit ketocarotenoids in the
eggs, preferably astaxanthin. 4. Canthaxanthin can replace astaxanthin
in the eggs, but astaxanthin appears to be deposited preferentially w
hen both carotenoids are present in the diet. 5. The isomer distributi
on of (3S, 3'S): (3R, 3'S, meso): (3R, 3'R) astaxanthin in the eggs re
flected the isomer composition of the diet. 6. Echinenone, 4'-hydroxye
chinenone, adonixanthin and zeaxanthin encountered in cod eggs may rep
resent reductive metabolites of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin.