Benefits Of Omega-3 Fed Cows Passed Onto Consumers
US - Cows fed a diet rich in omega-3 produce enriched meat that has significant benefits for consumers, suggests new research from Kansas State University.
25 May 2007
2 minute read
"Our study was the first to look at the effects of eating a high-ALA diet of beef from cattle fed flaxseed and the impact on long-chain omega-3 fatty acid composition of EPA and DHA in the membrane phospholipids of the heart and liver using a rat model," wrote lead author Denis Medeiros.
The current recommended intake of very long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the UK is 450mg per day. Yet on the basis of food consumption surveys, researchers estimate that the current mean intake amongst adults is only 282 mg per day, of which eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contribute 244mg.
In the US, individuals with heart disease are recommended to consume one gram of EPA plus DHA every day.
The new research, published in the journal Nutrition Research, suggests that raising cattle on flaxseed diet (10 per cent), rich in alpha-linolenic acid, leads to increases in the omega-3 content of the meat, which could then be passed on to the consumer.
Source: NutraIngredients-usa.com
