Methionine supplementation augments tissue n-3 fatty acid and tocopherol content in broiler birds fed flaxseed

Methionine (Met) is the first limiting amino acid in meat-type broiler chicken diets and serves as a lipotropic agent with antioxidant properties. The objectives of the current study is based on the hypothesis that Met supplementation will enhance n-3 fatty acid (FA) status, antioxidant content, lipid stability, and production indices in broilers fed flax. The effect of Met supplementation (50 and 100% above Cobb 500 requirement level) on tissue FA composition, tocopherol (Toc) content, lipid oxidation products, and growth performance of broilers fed flax is investigated. One hundred and twenty (n = 120) day-old Cobb chicks were fed corn-soybean meal-based diet containing 0% flax, (Control), 15% flax (Diet 1), Diet 1 + 50% more Met (Diet 2), and Diet 1 + 100% more Met (Diet 3) for 42 days. Total lipids in liver and adipose tissue was lowest in Diet 3 (P < 0.05). Feeding flax led to a reduction total lipids in breast muscle (P < 0.05) and was not affected by Met level (P > 0.05). α-Linolenic acid (18:3n-3) was highest in thigh muscle and liver of Diet 3 and adipose tissue of chickens fed Diet 2 and Diet 3 (P < 0.05). Total long chain (>20 C) n-3 FA was highest in the breast muscle of chickens fed Diet 2 and Diet 3 (P < 0.05). Total saturated FA were lowest in the breast and thigh muscle of Diet 3 fed birds (P < 0.05). Addition of Met led to an increase in α-Toc in breast muscle in birds fed Diet 2 and Diet 3 (P < 0.05). Lipid oxidation products were lower in the thigh muscle and adipose tissue of birds fed Diet 2 and Diet 3 than Diet 1 and Control (P < 0.05). Body weight gain was lowest in birds fed flax (P < 0.05). Met supplementation had no effect on weight gain or feed conversion in birds fed flax (P > 0.05). No effect of diet on feed consumption was observed (P > 0.05). Overall, results from the current study demonstrate that Met supplementation is a novel way to enrich tissues with n-3 FA and Toc in chickens fed flax.