The use of an optimised concentration of quercetin limits peroxidation of lipids in the meat of broiler chickens fed a diet containing flaxseed oil rich in omega-3.

Ross 308 chickens were used to investigate fatty acid (FA) composition and oxidative stability of broiler chicken meat following the controlled inhibition of peroxidation in feed containing a concentrated source of omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed oil, FLO), approximately 50% omega-3. Ninety-six one-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments (n = 24/group) that included rapeseed oil (RO), flaxseed oil (FLO), RO with optimised quercetin (Q) - RO_Q, or FLO with optimised Q (FLO_Q). On day 35, breast and thigh muscles were collected in order to analyse their FA profile and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Dietary treatments had no effect on weight gain or feed conversion ratio in chickens. However, dietary FLO increased the deposition of α-linolenic acid in both pectoral and thigh meat (P < 0.05), and tended to decrease the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 FA in pectoral muscles (P < 0.07). Addition of an optimised concentration of Q proved to be an efficient way of limiting lipoperoxidation in breast and thigh muscles subjected to refrigeration at 2-3 °C for either 1 or 7 days. Results were consistent with the observed inhibition of peroxidation in feed mixtures and significantly correlated with MDA levels found in feed mixtures. These results provide evidence that it is possible to produce poultry meat with an improved proportion of omega-3 FA without significantly altering the performance of broiler chickens or the oxidative stability of their meat.