The effect of dietary Chlorella pyrenoidosa inclusion on goats milk chemical composition, fatty acids profile and enzymes activities related to oxidation

The effect of dietary inclusion of microalgae on goat's milk chemical composition, fatty acids (FA) profile and enzymes activities related to antioxidant mechanism has not been adequately investigated so far. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of Chlorella pyrenoidosa on: a) milk yield, chemical composition and FA profile, b) on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in blood plasma, and c) on the activities of SOD, GR and lactoperoxidase (LPO) in milk of goats. Additionally, the oxidative stress indicators for measuring total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity [Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays] and oxidative stress biomarkers [malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls (PC)] in goats blood plasma and milk were also determined. Thus, sixteen crossbred goats were divided into two homogenous groups. All the goats were fed individually alfalfa hay and concentrates separately. The concentrates of the control group (Control) had no microalgae while that of the treated group supplemented with 10 g lyophilized Chlorella pyrenoidosa/ kg concentrate (Chlor). The results showed that the Chlor diet compared with the control had not noticeable impact on goats milk yield, chemical composition and fatty acids profile. Furthermore, the Chlor diet had no effect on the antioxidant enzymes activities, antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress indicators in both blood plasma and milk of goats. In conclusion, the daily dietary inclusion of Chlorella pyrenoidosa at 11 g per goat for 28 days did not improves the milk quality and/or the antioxidant status of both animals and milk.