The main purpose of this scientific study was to compare the bioavailability and metabolic fate of omega-3 fatty acids that originate from fish oil (TAG-rich) or krill oil (phospholipid-rich) in both male and female lab rats. The approach was to use the whole-body fatty-acid (FA) balance method.
Seventy two Sprague-Dawley rats (half male half female) were selected randomly and given either a FO diet (EPA+DHA+DPA=1·61 mg/g of diet) or a KO diet (EPA+DHA+DPA=1·38 mg/g of diet) for six consecutive weeks. After the diet period, the following was analyzed for overall fatty acid content:
- Faeces
- Whole body
- Individual body parts
The scientists found that the absorption of fatty acids was considerably more in female rats with little notable effect on oil type.
Resource
Metabolic fate (absorption, β-oxidation and deposition) of long-chain n-3 fatty acids is affected by sex and by the oil source (krill oil or fish oil) in the rat.