Exploring the Impact of Dietary EPA/DHA Supplementation on Lipid Metabolism of Tenebrio molitor Larvae

Tenbrio molitor (T. molitor) is a widely utilized feed ingredient, though it is deficient in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). To address this, dietary supplements containing EPA and DHA in ethyl ester and triglyceride forms were administered to investigate the lipid metabolism and bioenhancement potential of T. molitor. The larvae exhibited normal growth across all treatment groups. EPA/DHA levels were significantly elevated in T. molitor-enriched diets, with newly identified phospholipid species including phosphatidylcholine 18: 1₂0: 5 (PC 18: 1₂0: 5) and phosphatidylethanolamine 18: 0₂0: 5 (PE 18: 0₂0: 5). KEGG pathway analysis revealed that glycerol phospholipid metabolism (ko00564), endogenous cannabinoid signaling (ko04723), and cell division (ko04148) were the core pathways that promoted phospholipid synthesis and oxidative lipid conversion (such as peroxide value-phosphatidylcholine, POV-PC). T. molitor activates glycerophospholipid metabolism, converting EPA/DHA into more bioavailable medium- and short-chain phospholipids, thereby enhancing its nutritional value and providing a new strategy for the development of functional foods/feeds.