Fatty acid content and composition in edible Ruspolia differens feeding on mixtures of natural food plants
Loading...
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Research Notes
Abstract
To develop successful mass-rearing programs of edible insects, knowledge of the feeds and their influence
on nutritional content is critical. We assessed the influence of natural food plants (grass inflorescences) and their
mixtures on fatty acid profiles of edible Ruspolia differens. We reared neonate nymphs to adult on six dietary treatments
consisting of one, and mixtures of two, three, five, six and eight plants.
Results: The contents of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-6/omega-3 ratio, and
adult body weight did not differ among dietary treatments. However, the composition of fatty acids differed significantly
among insects fed on six dietary treatments, but only for the rare fatty acids. Our results demonstrate that even
if natural diets (grass inflorescences) do not strongly modify fatty acid contents or compositions of R. differens, when
reared from neonate nymphs to adults, their n − 6/n − 3 fatty acid ratio is generally low and thus good for a healthy
human diet.
Description
Keywords
Africa, Edible insect, Food security, Natural diets, MUFA, PUFA
Citation
Rutaro, K., Malinga, G. M., Lehtovaara, V. J., Opoke, R., Nyeko, P., Roininen, H., & Valtonen, A. (2018). Fatty acid content and composition in edible Ruspolia differens feeding on mixtures of natural food plants. BMC Research Notes, 11(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3792-9