Biofortified orange maize enhances β-cryptoxanthin concentrations in egg yolks of laying hens better than tangerine peel fortificant.
The xanthophyll β-cryptoxanthin provides vitamin A and has other purported health benefits. Laying hens deposit xanthophyll carotenoids into egg yolk. Hens (n = 8/group) were fed conventional-bred high β-cryptoxanthin biofortified (orange) maize, tangerine peel-fortified white maize, lutein-fortified yellow maize, or white maize for 40 d to investigate yolk color changes using L*a*b* scales, yolk carotenoid enhancement, and hen vitamin A status. Yolks from hens fed orange maize had scores indicating a darker, orange color and mean higher β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene concentrations (8.43 ± 1.82, 23.1 ± 4.8, 0.16 ± 0.08 nmol/g, respectively) than other treatments (P < 0.0001). Yolk retinol concentrations (mean: 14.4 ± 3.42 nmol/g) were similar among groups and decreased with time (P < 0.0001). Hens fed orange maize had higher liver retinol (0.53 ± 0.20 μmol/g liver) than other groups (P < 0.0001). β-Cryptoxanthin-biofortified eggs could be another choice for consumers, providing enhanced color through a provitamin A carotenoid and supporting eggs' status as a functional food.
Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Department of Nutritional Sciences, ‡Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.
Emily K
EK
Heying
Jacob P
JP
Tanumihardjo
Vedran
V
Vasic
Mark
M
Cook
Natalia
N
Palacios-Rojas
Sherry A
SA
Tanumihardjo
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002957:Citrus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003116:Color; D065366:Cryptoxanthins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism*
D065366:Cryptoxanthins
biofortification; chicken liver; chickens; functional food; retinol; xanthophyll; zeaxanthin