alpha-Tocopherol transfer efficiency and lipid oxidation in fresh and spray-dried eggs enriched with omega 3-polyunsaturated fatty acids

We evaluated the effect of supplementing a basal diet containing 5% linseed oil with 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of alpha -tocopheryl acetate (alpha -TA ) on alpha -tocopherol content, fatty acid composition, and lipid oxidation in fresh and spray-dried eggs during storage. alpha -Tocopherol transfer e fficiency from feed to egg was also studied. The alpha -tocopherol content of fresh egg increased in a dose-dependent manner (16.6, 49.8, 78.9, and 13 2.3 mug/g of egg for 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg alpha -TA supplementation, r espectively), but transfer efficiency decreased, from 41.8% to 26.7%, with increasing alpha -tocopherol content in the diet. Spray-drying significantl y decreased the alpha -tocopherol content of eggs and increased lipid oxida tion. Dietary supplementation with different levels of alpha -TA significan tly reduced lipid oxidation in spray-dried eggs. alpha -TA supplementation had no significant effect on the fatty acid composition of fresh eggs.