Dietary Dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat-stressed laying hens

IntroductionDunaliella salina (DS) is a prospective source of bioactive carotenoids, including beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids. The effect of dietary supplementation of DS on the productive performance, immune response, and egg quality of heat-stressed laying hens has not been com...

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Main Authors: Mahmoud Madkour, Sami I. Ali, Mahmoud Alagawany, Mohamed S. El-Kholy, Farouk K. El-Baz, Abdulmohsen H. Alqhtani, Abdulrahman S. Alharthi, Anthony Pokoo-Aikins, Ahmed A. Elolimy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1545433/full
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author Mahmoud Madkour
Sami I. Ali
Mahmoud Alagawany
Mohamed S. El-Kholy
Farouk K. El-Baz
Abdulmohsen H. Alqhtani
Abdulrahman S. Alharthi
Anthony Pokoo-Aikins
Ahmed A. Elolimy
author_facet Mahmoud Madkour
Sami I. Ali
Mahmoud Alagawany
Mohamed S. El-Kholy
Farouk K. El-Baz
Abdulmohsen H. Alqhtani
Abdulrahman S. Alharthi
Anthony Pokoo-Aikins
Ahmed A. Elolimy
author_sort Mahmoud Madkour
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionDunaliella salina (DS) is a prospective source of bioactive carotenoids, including beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids. The effect of dietary supplementation of DS on the productive performance, immune response, and egg quality of heat-stressed laying hens has not been comprehensively studied. We investigated how dietary D. salina supplementation affects the deposition of bioactive carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids in egg yolks of laying hens experiencing summer heat stress, as determined by the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). The influence of D. salina supplementation on the productive performance, immune response, and antioxidant status of heat-stressed laying hens was assessed.MethodsA total of 120 Elma-Brown laying hens were assigned to four dietary treatments with DS supplementation at 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg of diet. The experiment lasted 60 days, during which eggs were collected at three time points: 15, 30, and 60 days from the start of the study.Results and discussionincluding DS at 1 g/kg improved egg production and feed conversion, with improved antioxidant status via a marked inhibitory effect on malondialdehyde in heat-stressed laying hens. Dietary 0.5 g/kg DS improved the immune response of heat-stressed laying hens compared to that of the control group. The highest dose of DS (1.5 g/kg diet) increased astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, and total carotenoids by 9.8%, 50.44%, 49.19%, and 84.21% (p < 0.05), respectively, and decreased β-carotene by 38.61% (p < 0.05), when compared with the control. Feeding DS to heat-stressed laying hens increased the concentrations of the long-chain Omega-3 (docosahexaenoic acid) in egg yolks; the dose of 0.5 g/kg diet for 15 d produced an increase in the DHA content by104.76% above the control group (p < 0.5). Feeding DS improved the nutritional indices of egg yolks, as egg yolks retained a high ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)/polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)/saturated fatty acids, low thrombogenicity index (IT), low atherogenicity index (IA), and high hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic index (h/H). Feeding heat-stressed laying hens DS improved their productivity and antioxidant status, resulting in functional eggs enriched with bioactive carotenoids (astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein) and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
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spelling doaj-art-bfde3de83f9e4b7c9636a4305526fa812025-08-20T02:03:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-02-011210.3389/fvets.2025.15454331545433Dietary Dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat-stressed laying hensMahmoud Madkour0Sami I. Ali1Mahmoud Alagawany2Mohamed S. El-Kholy3Farouk K. El-Baz4Abdulmohsen H. Alqhtani5Abdulrahman S. Alharthi6Anthony Pokoo-Aikins7Ahmed A. Elolimy8Animal Production Department, National Research Centre, Giza, EgyptPlant Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza, EgyptPoultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EgyptPoultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EgyptPlant Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza, EgyptAnimal Production Department, Food and Agriculture Sciences College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaAnimal Production Department, Food and Agriculture Sciences College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaToxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Athens, GA, United StatesDepartment of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesIntroductionDunaliella salina (DS) is a prospective source of bioactive carotenoids, including beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids. The effect of dietary supplementation of DS on the productive performance, immune response, and egg quality of heat-stressed laying hens has not been comprehensively studied. We investigated how dietary D. salina supplementation affects the deposition of bioactive carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids in egg yolks of laying hens experiencing summer heat stress, as determined by the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). The influence of D. salina supplementation on the productive performance, immune response, and antioxidant status of heat-stressed laying hens was assessed.MethodsA total of 120 Elma-Brown laying hens were assigned to four dietary treatments with DS supplementation at 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg of diet. The experiment lasted 60 days, during which eggs were collected at three time points: 15, 30, and 60 days from the start of the study.Results and discussionincluding DS at 1 g/kg improved egg production and feed conversion, with improved antioxidant status via a marked inhibitory effect on malondialdehyde in heat-stressed laying hens. Dietary 0.5 g/kg DS improved the immune response of heat-stressed laying hens compared to that of the control group. The highest dose of DS (1.5 g/kg diet) increased astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, and total carotenoids by 9.8%, 50.44%, 49.19%, and 84.21% (p < 0.05), respectively, and decreased β-carotene by 38.61% (p < 0.05), when compared with the control. Feeding DS to heat-stressed laying hens increased the concentrations of the long-chain Omega-3 (docosahexaenoic acid) in egg yolks; the dose of 0.5 g/kg diet for 15 d produced an increase in the DHA content by104.76% above the control group (p < 0.5). Feeding DS improved the nutritional indices of egg yolks, as egg yolks retained a high ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)/polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)/saturated fatty acids, low thrombogenicity index (IT), low atherogenicity index (IA), and high hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic index (h/H). Feeding heat-stressed laying hens DS improved their productivity and antioxidant status, resulting in functional eggs enriched with bioactive carotenoids (astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein) and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1545433/fullDunaliella salinaheat stresscarotenoidsomega-3 fatty acidslaying hens
spellingShingle Mahmoud Madkour
Sami I. Ali
Mahmoud Alagawany
Mohamed S. El-Kholy
Farouk K. El-Baz
Abdulmohsen H. Alqhtani
Abdulrahman S. Alharthi
Anthony Pokoo-Aikins
Ahmed A. Elolimy
Dietary Dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat-stressed laying hens
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Dunaliella salina
heat stress
carotenoids
omega-3 fatty acids
laying hens
title Dietary Dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat-stressed laying hens
title_full Dietary Dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat-stressed laying hens
title_fullStr Dietary Dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat-stressed laying hens
title_full_unstemmed Dietary Dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat-stressed laying hens
title_short Dietary Dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat-stressed laying hens
title_sort dietary dunaliella salina microalgae enriches eggs with carotenoids and long chain omega 3 fatty acids enhancing the antioxidant and immune responses in heat stressed laying hens
topic Dunaliella salina
heat stress
carotenoids
omega-3 fatty acids
laying hens
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1545433/full
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