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. 2025 Jun 4;104(9):105393.
doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105393. Online ahead of print.

High dietary astaxanthin supplementation alters egg yolk nutritional composition in hens

Ao-Chuan Yu  1 , Cheng Long  1 , Xi-Hui Sheng  1 , Xiang-Guo Wang  1 , Long-Fei Xiao  1 , Xiang-Ning Chen  2 , Xiao-Long Qi  3
Affiliations

High dietary astaxanthin supplementation alters egg yolk nutritional composition in hens

Ao-Chuan Yu et al. Poult Sci. .

Abstract

Astaxanthin (ASTA), a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-apoptotic effects, has garnered attention for its potential to enhance the nutritional value of eggs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary ASTA on egg yolk nutritional composition, sensory attributes, and related molecular mechanisms. We assessed how varying levels of ASTA supplementation (0, 0.01 %, 0.02 %, and 0.04 %) influenced yolk color, texture, and nutrient profile. The results showed that dietary ASTA had no significant effect on laying productive performance but enhanced yolk color in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Texture analysis showed that ASTA reduced the cohesiveness and chewiness of yolks (P < 0.05), while electronic tongue analysis confirmed no significant impact on flavor. ASTA did not significantly alter amino acid composition but increased total fatty acid content in the 0.02 % and 0.04 % groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the content of vitamin E in egg yolk significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the ASTA groups, and the contents of vitamin D in egg yolk significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the 0.01 % and 0.04 % ASTA groups, which corresponded with inhibited expression of alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (TTPA) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) mRNA, as well as reduced VDR protein levels. ASTA further upregulated the expression of nutrient-transport proteins, including very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) (P < 0.05), demonstrating its role in modulating nutrient transport and distribution. This research underscores the importance of balancing ASTA levels to optimize both nutrient enhancement and preservation of existing beneficial compounds in fortified eggs. Our research findings provide valuable insights for the production of ASTA-enriched eggs, enabling consumers to select nutritionally fortified eggs according to their own nutritional needs.

Keywords: Astaxanthin; Astaxanthin-fortified egg; Fatty acids; Vitamin D; Vitamin E.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Effect of dietary ASTA supplementation on the level of ASTA (A), Vitamin A (B), Vitamin D (C), and Vitamin E (D) in the egg yolk.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
The scores plot of PCA analysis for different nutrients in egg yolks with different concentrations of ASTA in dietary supplementation. (A) Saturated fatty acids. (B) Monounsaturated fatty acids. (C) Polyunsaturated fatty acids. (D) Fatty acids. (E) Mineral elements. (F) Amino acids.
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Heatmap indicating Correlation of egg texture indexes with fatty acid content.
Fig 4
Fig. 4
Effect of dietary ASTA supplementation on VLDL (A, B, C, and D) and VTG (E, F, G, and H) contents in egg yolk, plasma, liver, and uterus of laying hens.
Fig 5
Fig. 5
Effect of dietary ASTA supplementation on the relative expression of SCARB1 (A), CRBP1 (B), LRAT (C), RBP4 (D), TTR (E), VDR (F), TTPA (G), FAS (H), SCD1 (I), ACC (J), VLDLR (K), and STRA6 (L) mRNA in liver and uterus.
Fig 6
Fig. 6
Effect of dietary ASTA supplementation on the relative abundance of VDR protein in the liver of laying hens. (A) Protein level of VDR; (B) The relative protein level of VDR.
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