Fatty acid composition of several muscles and adipose tissues of pigs fed n-3 PUFA rich diets

During two months, sixty Pietrain × (Landrace × Large White) finishing pigs (50.7 to 115.2 kg live weight) received diets containing various levels of C18:3n-3 from linseed and C22:6n-3 from Schizochytrium microalgae to increase the content of these fatty acids (FA) in their lean and fat tissues. Samples of tissues have been extracted from the carcass at the slaughterhouse. Tissues of pigs fed linseed had the highest C18:3n-3 and C20:3n-3 contents, while the C20:4, C20:5 and C22:6n-3 contents increased in tissues with microalgae diets. Diaphragm was fatter, but contained less monounsaturated FA, total n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) than longissimus thoracis et lumborum and semimembranosus muscles due to their different roles. The leaf fat was the most saturated and monounsaturated tissue, regardless of the diet. Adipose tissues located in extremities contained more n-3 and n-6 PUFA than adipose tissues located in the middle of the carcass. This study showed the existence of a PUFA gradient depending on tissue location.