Highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) retention in the freshwater cladoceran, Moina macrocopa, enriched with lipid emulsions

Abstract

Fatty acid profiles of Moina macrocopa enriched with lipids from inexpensive squid or canola oil were compared with profiles of Moina enriched with a commercial enrichment diet, A1 DHA Selco® (ADS). Arachidonic acid (AA) significantly increased from <0.01 to 0.28 mg/g body weight in Moina enriched with ADS at 1 g/l for 12 h and to 0.38 mg/g in Moina enriched in 2 g/l canola oil for 12 h. The highest increase in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; from 0.15 to 0.38 mg/g) was obtained when Moina were enriched in 1 g/l ADS for 12 h. The highest increases in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; originally <0.01) were obtained in Moina enriched in 1 g/l ADS for 12 h (increased to 0.09) or in 2 g/l ADS for 24 h (rose to 0.8 mg/g). The AA:EPA ratio was highest in Moina treated with 2 g/l canola oil for 12 h or 2 g/l squid oil for 24 h. The AA:DHA ratio was highest in Moina enriched with 2 g/l canola oil for 12 h while the DHA:EPA ratio was highest in Moina enriched with 2 g/l squid oil for 24 h.