Effect of oil sources and vitamin E levels in the diet on the composition of fatty acids in rooster thigh and chest meat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of different oil sources and dietary supplementation with vitamin E on the composition of fatty acids in rooster meat. Two hundred and forty 30-week-old White Leghorn roosters were distributed in a completely randomized factorial arrangement of 5 × 2, using five oil sources (sunflower, soybean, canola, linseed and fish) and two levels of antioxidant (30 and 400 mg vitamin E kg^-1 of diet). The intake of fish and canola oil in the diet reduced (P < 0.05) the content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the thigh meat. Amongst the unsaturated fatty acids in the thigh, the fish and canola oil reduced (P < 0.05) the level of (omega)6 fatty acid, with a consequent decrease in the ratio (omega)6:(omega)3. The diet with fish oil increased (P < 0.05) the content of C22:6(omega)3 in the thigh meat. The use of linseed oil resulted in a significant reduction of the ratio of (omega)6:(omega)3 fatty acid in the thigh. The use of soybean oil in the diet increased (P < 0.05) the content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the thigh, specifically in the content of (omega)6. The inclusion of vitamin E increased the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the chest meat, such as C18:3(omega)3, C20:5(omega)3 and C22:6(omega)3.