[Hydrocarbons of the spiruline algae: nature, metabolism of heptadecane by rats and swine].

Hydrocarbons represent about half of the insaponifiable fraction of spirulina algae (0.1 to 0.3 p. 100 of the dry alga); n-heptadecane is the major component (65 p. 100). The retention of this paraffin has been measured in animals receiving these algae as the main or partial protein source. Rats fed with a diet containing 280 ppm n-heptadecane (25 p. 100 alga meal) from weaning show an accumulation of this hydrocarbon in the carcass the retention levels off after 4 months and seems related to the lipid content; preferential fixation occurs in adipose tissue. Sows receiving a diet with 52 ppm heptadecane (5p. 100 alga meal) during growth, pregnancy and lactation retain comparatively much less hydrocarbon; nevertheless n-heptadecane is excreted in the milk.