title: Dietary fatty acids influence the growth and fatty acid composition of the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).
abstract: Fat is the second most abundant component of the nutrient composition of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) that represents also an interesting source of PUFA, especially n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, involved in prevention of cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the possibility of modifying the fat content and the FA composition of yellow mealworms through feeding and how this would be influenced by developmental stages, pupal sex, and generation with the future aim of applying this coleopteran as a diet supplement for human health. Growth rate and cumulative mortality percentage on the different feeding substrates were also evaluated to select the optimal conditions for a mass-raising of this insect species. Despite the different fat content in the six different breeding substrates used, T. molitor larvae and pupae contained a constant fat percentage (>34% in larvae and >30% in pupae). A similar total fat content was found comparing larvae and male and female pupae of the second generation to those of the first generation. On the contrary, FA composition differed both in larvae and pupae reared on the different feeding substrates. However, the exemplars reared on the diets based on 100% bread and 100% oat flour showed SFA, PUFA percentages, and an n-6/n-3 ratio more suitable for human consumption; the diet based on beer yeast, wheat flour, and oat flour resulted in a contemporary diet that most satisfied the balance between a fat composition of high quality and favorable growth conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via A. Moro, 53100, Siena, Italy. elena.dreassi@unisi.it.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dreassi
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca e la sperimentazione in agricoltura, Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, Cascine del Riccio, Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cito
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via A. Moro, 53100, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanfini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via A. Moro, 53100, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Materozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via A. Moro, 53100, Siena, Italy.|Lead Discovery Siena Srl, via Vittorio Alfieri 31, Castelnuovo Berardenga, 53019, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca e la sperimentazione in agricoltura, Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, Cascine del Riccio, Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Francardi
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids
keywords: Fatty acids analysis; Monounsatured fatty acids (MUFA); Polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFA)