The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of carnosic acid (CA), selenised yeast (YSe) and selenate (VISe) supplemented to diets, including fish oil (FO) and rapeseed oil (RO), on the content of fatty acids, total cholesterol (TCh), tocopherols and malondialdehyde in the fat located between the thigh muscles and the heart in lambs. Twenty-four male Corriedale lambs were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals. Animals were fed a diet with FO and RO (the control diet) or experimental diets containing RO, FO and CA with/without Se (as YSe or VISe). The experimental diets without/with YSe or VISe changed concentrations of fatty acids in the fat and heart compared to the control. All experimental diets increased the levels of c11c14C20:2, c5c8c11c14C20:4, c5c8c11c14c17C20:5 and the sums of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LPUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid isomers in the fat compared to the control. The experimental diet containing YSe or VISe increased the content of Se, TCh, c11c14C20:2, c8c11c14C20:3, c5c8c11c14C20:4, c5c8c11c14c17C20:5, c7c10c13c16c19C22:5, c4c7c10c13c16c19C22:6 and the concentration sum of n-3LPUFA, n-6LPUFA and tocopherols in the heart in comparison with the control diet and the diet containing only CA. Experimental diets reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde in the fat and heart in comparison with the control diet. Our dietary intervention has great potential for future practical and commercial implementations.
Keywords: Carnosic acid; Cholesterol; Fatty acid; Lamb; Selenium; Tocopherol.
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