title: Use of the beta-carotene rich alga Dunaliella bardawil as a source of retinol.
abstract: Dunaliella bardawil, a beta-carotene accumulating halotolerant alga, has been tested as a source of retinol in a chick diet. Chicks were fed diets deficient in retinol or supplemented with retinol, synthetic beta-carotene or dry algae. After an initial lag, chicks grew equally well on diets supplemented with algae, retinol or beta-carotene. Serum and liver analyses revealed a normal content of retinol in all chicks except those grown on the retinol-deficient diet. Chicks fed the algae-supplemented diet contained lutein but no beta-carotene in their serum, even though the ratio of beta-carotene to lutein in the algae was over 15:1. Laying hens fed with an algae-supplemented diet showed enhanced egg yolk colour attributable to a higher lutein content. No beta-carotene was present in the egg-yolk. These studies demonstrate the possibility of using dried Dunaliella bardawil as a dietary supplement which can fully satisfy the retinol requirement and also serve as a yolk-colour enhancing agent.
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D056890:Eukaryota; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids