Red clover-rich grassland increases equol concentration in eggs from free-range laying hens

Tosar, Victoria;Rousseau, Gilles;Decruyenaere, Virginie;Beckers, Yves;Froidmont, Eric;et.al.
(2021) British Poultry Science — Vol. 1, n° 1, p. 1 (2021)

Files

YL2021Redcloverrichgrasslandincreasesequolconcentrationineggsfromfreerangelayinghens.pdf
  • Open Access
  • Adobe PDF
  • 855.98 KB

Details

Authors
  • Tosar, VictoriaUCLouvain
    Author
  • Rousseau, Gilles
    Author
  • Decruyenaere, Virginie
    Author
  • Beckers, Yves
    Author
  • Author
  • Author
Show more
Abstract
1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of equol (4ʹ,7-isoflavandiol; a bacterial polyphenol metabolite which is an isoflavandiol oestrogen metabolised from daidzein from plants) enriched eggs from free-range hens fed different pasture species. Four species were tested: red clover, white clover, ryegrass and chicory. 2. The study was conducted from June to September 2017 on eight free range, outdoor areas, each containing fifteen laying hens and sown with a single pasture species 3. Precursors of equol (daidzein, formononetin) were analysed every fortnight from the fresh pasture cover in each area, as well as equol and daidzein levels in eggs. 4. Daidzein and formononetin concentrations in the fresh pasture samples differed significantly according to species (P<0.001), whereby red clover had the highest concentrations of daidzein and formononetin (85 and 996 µg/g DM, respectively). 5. Equol concentration in eggs differed according to pasture species (P<0.001). Equol concentrations reached about 1,200 ng/g DM in eggs from hens with access to red clover. These eggs can represent a valuable source of equol in the human diet.
Affiliations

Citations

Tosar, V., Rousseau, G., Decruyenaere, V., Beckers, Y., Larondelle, Y., & Froidmont, E. (2021). Red clover-rich grassland increases equol concentration in eggs from free-range laying hens. British Poultry Science, 1(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2021.1929069 (Original work published 2021)