Alpha-tocopherol transfer efficiency and lipid oxidation in fresh and spray-dried eggs enriched with omega3-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 efficiency 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 132.3 microg/g of egg for 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg alpha-TA supplementation, respectively), but transfer efficiency decreased, from 41.8% to 26.7%, with increasing alpha-tocopherol content in the diet. Spray-drying significantly decreased the alpha-tocopherol content of eggs and increased lipid oxidation. Dietary supplementation with different levels of alpha-TA significantly reduced lipid oxidation in spray-dried eggs. Alpha-TA supplementation had no significant effect on the fatty acid composition of fresh eggs.