Feeding rapeseed oil to increase n-3 PUFA of pork: fatty acid composition of muscle and adipose tissue

LWxGL pigs were divided into 3 groups (20 pigs in each group). The aim of this research was to determine what effect the rapeseed oil added to diets (0%, 3% and 6%) has on the enrichment of muscle and adipose tissue with a-linolenic acid, C18:3, n-3, during the fattening of pigs from 30 up to 100 kg. Moreover, the intent was to lower the PUFA n-6/PUFA n-3 ratio in the samples of musculus longissimus dorsi (muscle tissue with belonging adipose tissue). Research results showed that the rapeseed oil added to pigs' diets increased the content of ALA (P<0.01) in the total amount of fatty acids of both tissues, i.e. in the muscle tissue by 69.56% and 130.43%, respectively, and in adipose tissue by 60.29% and 139.70%, respectively. At the same time, the PUFA n-6/PUFA n-3 ratio was lowered in both tissues. It was statistically observed that the DHA content in fatty acids of muscle tissue also significantly increased (P<0.01), which supports the fact that pigs can synthesize DHA in vivo, if the feed contains enough amount of precursors.