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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #247909
Title: Use of tocopherol with polyunsaturated fatty acids in poultry feeds

Author
item Holser, Ronald
item Hinton Jr, Arthur

Submitted to: International Poultry Scientific Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/27/2009
Publication Date: 1/25/2010
Citation: Holser, R.A., Hinton Jr, A. 2010. Use of tocopherol with polyunsaturated fatty acids in poultry feeds [abstract]. 25-26 January, 2010, Atlanta, GA, 2010 International Poultry Scientific Forum.

Interpretive Summary: N\A

Technical Abstract: Tocopherol can inhibit the oxidative degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by stabilizing lipid radicals that form at elevated temperatures or pro-oxidant conditions. This is particularly relevant for feeds formulated with fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or linolenic acid (ALA) The highly unsaturated structure of these lipid compounds makes them susceptible to oxidative degradation with loss of bioactivity and the development of volatile compounds. Mixtures of DHA and ALA were incubated at elevated temperatures to study the rate of degradation with different levels of added tocopherol. Samples of the mixtures were analyzed by gas chromatography. The results indicated that tocopherol can prevent the degradation of these polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, the greatest protective effect was not obtained at the highest levels of tocopherol.