Authors : R. F. Zaraa , W. A. Silva , E. A. Vianna Filhoa , C. A. Silvab , J. V. Visentainera , M. Matsushitaa and N. E. de Souza
Abstract: The effect of sunflower seeds on the fatty acid composition of lipid fraction from pork ham muscle has been studied. Forty-eight Landrace pigs being twenty-four castrated males and twenty-four females were assigned in groups of twelve to four diets. Muscles are obtained from animals fed on diets with the same ingredients excepted addition of sunflower seed (SS) (diet without SS, 5%, 10% and diet with 20% of SS) in substitution of corn and soybean meal (control) in feeds. The ratio polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) in pork ham for fat in muscle tissue was markedly modified by dietary sunflower seeds administration, which was due to the increase in the C18:2n-6 and the decrease in the C16:0 and C18:0. The content of C18:2n-6 increased from 11.7% in control group to 29.5% in the 20% sunflower seeds group. The content of saturated fatty acids, C16:0 and C18:0 decreased from 23.5% and 11.6% in control group to 16.8% and 9.3% in the 20% sunflower seeds group, respectively. The addition of sunflower seeds produced a significantly (P<0.05) lower proportion of oleic acid (C18:1n-9) from 47.0% in control group to 39.7% in the 20% sunflower seeds group. Incorporation of sunflower seeds of 5%, 10% and 20% in a swine diet markedly decreased the proportion of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids and increased polyunsaturated fatty acids in pork ham (P<0.05).
R. F. Zaraa , W. A. Silva , E. A. Vianna Filhoa , C. A. Silvab , J. V. Visentainera , M. Matsushitaa and N. E. de Souza , 2005. Effect of Sunflower Seed on Fatty Acid Profiles in Pork Ham . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 4: 282-286.