THE CAROTENOIDS OF EGGS OF WILD AND FARMED COD (GADUS-MORHUA)

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.