Combining ruminally protected choline and flaxseed in cattle diets to increase the assimilation of omega-3 fatty acids from the diet

摘要

Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential part of a healthy human diet. If consumed regularly,these fatty acids attenuate inflammation and lower risk of inflammatory diseases, suchas heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The human body cannot synthesize adequateamounts of omega-3 fatty acids; they must be obtained by consuming foods that arerich in omega-3s. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in foods like fish, some oilseeds,and some nut oils. Overall consumption of these foods is relatively low compared withthe consumption of red meat such as beef, which typically contains relatively smallamounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids,and when fed to cattle, these fats are absorbed and deposited into beef tissues. Thetransfer of omega-3 fatty acids from the diet to tissues is very poor, however, due toextensive alteration of fats by microbes in the rumen. If transfer efficiency from diet totissues could be improved, beef could become a viable source of omega-3 fatty acids forconsumers. Choline plays an important role in the metabolism of fats, and deficienciesof dietary choline could limit the absorption and tissue deposition of polyunsaturatedfatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids. Our objective was to evaluate the effects ofcombining ruminally protected choline and flaxseed on changes in plasma concentrationsof long-chain fatty acids.